Driving in Portugal vs Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Portugal and Thailand, understanding their unique driving norms is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Portugal versus the left in Thailand, varied speed limits, and different regulations regarding emergency equipment. Familiarizing yourself with these aspects can enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
portugal:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
portugal:
Prohibited.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
portugal:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
portugal:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
portugal:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
portugal:
Possible
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Portugal | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
portugal:
Prohibited
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
portugal:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
portugal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
portugal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local authorities | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACP | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
portugal:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
portugal:
Contact local authorities
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Portugal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €120 to €600 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €240 to €1,200 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €120 to €600 | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
portugal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
portugal:
€120 to €600
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
portugal:
€120 to €600
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
portugal:
Possible
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days