Driving in Russia vs. Thailand: Key Differences Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and vehicle operation between Russia and Thailand. From lane usage to speed limits, each country offers unique guidelines that can impact your journey. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable driving experience abroad. Prepare for a smoother ride with our comprehensive comparison!
Lanes
| Russia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | 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 with specific road signs or markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
russia:
Right
thailand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
russia:
Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
russia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
russia:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
russia:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
russia:
Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
russia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
russia:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Russia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 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 | Yes; but fines are also mailed | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
russia:
60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
russia:
20 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
russia:
90 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
70-80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
russia:
110 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
russia:
90-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
russia:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
russia:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
russia:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
russia:
Yes; but fines are also mailed
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Russia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Russia | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Russian; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
russia:
Not used in Russia
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
russia:
Russian; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
russia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Russia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
russia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Russia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Usually indicated in vehicle documents | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
russia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
russia:
Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
russia:
Usually indicated in vehicle documents
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
russia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Russia | 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
russia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
russia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Russia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.035% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially in cities | Common, especially during holidays |
| 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: General Drivers
russia:
0.035%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
russia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
russia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
russia:
Common, especially in cities
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
russia:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
russia:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Russia | 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
russia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
russia:
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
| Russia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers; 113 is common | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
russia:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
russia:
Check local numbers; 113 is common
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
russia:
Check with your insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
russia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Russia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points in the record | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
russia:
Varies; substantial fines
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
russia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
russia:
Fines apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
russia:
Fines apply, points in the record
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
russia:
Fines apply
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
russia:
Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
russia:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days