Driving Differences: Saudi Arabia vs. Thailand
When navigating the roads of Saudi Arabia and Thailand, understanding the unique regulations and practices is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving sides—right in Saudi Arabia versus left in Thailand—and varied speed limits. Familiarizing yourself with these crucial aspects will enhance your travel experience and ensure road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
saudi arabia:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
Yes
thailand:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120-140 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Saudi Arabia | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use for communication on the road | 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, random checkpoints are used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; possible imprisonment | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Frequent for offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
thailand:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Saudi arabia | 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
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
saudi arabia:
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
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
saudi arabia:
999
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
saudi arabia:
993
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Saudi arabia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days