Driving in Serbia vs. Thailand: Key Differences Explained
Driving in Serbia and Thailand presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should understand. Notable differences include driving on the right in Serbia versus the left in Thailand, as well as varying speed limits and lane usage rules. Familiarizing yourself with these aspects can significantly enhance your journey's safety and enjoyment.
Lanes
| Serbia | 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: 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
serbia:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 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 | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
serbia:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
serbia:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
serbia:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Serbia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Serbia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by city; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Serbia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Serbia | 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
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Serbia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
serbia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Serbia | 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
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
serbia:
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
| Serbia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | 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
serbia:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days