Driving Differences: Senegal vs. Thailand Explained
As travelers embark on journeys through Senegal and Thailand, understanding the distinct road regulations and practices is essential for a secure experience. Key contrasts include driving on the right in Senegal versus the left in Thailand, as well as varied speed limits and vehicle inspection requirements. Awareness of these variations promotes safer navigation in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Senegal | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
senegal:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
senegal:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
senegal:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
senegal:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
senegal:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Senegal | 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 | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
senegal:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
senegal:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
senegal:
110 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
senegal:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
senegal:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
senegal:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Senegal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Senegal | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Senegal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not commonly allowed | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
thailand:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Senegal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
senegal:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
senegal:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Senegal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| 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
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
thailand:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
senegal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Senegal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | 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
senegal:
0.00%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
senegal:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
senegal:
Can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
senegal:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Senegal | 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
senegal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
senegal:
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
| Senegal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 18 or 17 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 | 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
senegal:
18 or 17
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
senegal:
17
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
senegal:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
senegal:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Senegal | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 10,000 CFA | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; significant fines | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; often required immediately | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
senegal:
10,000 CFA
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days