Driving in Slovakia vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Slovakia and Thailand, understanding the nuances of their traffic regulations is vital for ensuring a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and protocols for emergency vehicles. This comparison highlights essential driving practices to keep in mind for a safe experience in both countries.
Lanes
| Slovakia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
slovakia:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
slovakia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
slovakia:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
slovakia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
slovakia:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Slovakia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
slovakia:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
slovakia:
90 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
slovakia:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
slovakia:
130 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
slovakia:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
slovakia:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
slovakia:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Slovakia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Slovakia | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Slovak; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Slovakia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Slovakia | 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 | International Driving Permit required along with local license | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and regular inspections required | 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
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
slovakia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
slovakia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Slovakia | 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
slovakia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
slovakia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Slovakia | 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; 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
slovakia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
slovakia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
slovakia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
slovakia:
Can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
slovakia:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Slovakia | 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
slovakia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
slovakia:
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
| Slovakia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 158 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service | 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
slovakia:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
slovakia:
158
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
slovakia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
slovakia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Slovakia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €50 to €150, points in some regions | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100 to €200, points in some regions | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €100 to €250, points on license possible | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
slovakia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
slovakia:
Common
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days