Driving in South Africa vs Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Driving in South Africa and Thailand presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should understand. From lane markings to speed limits and emergency protocols, the variations can significantly impact road safety. This comparison highlights essential distinctions, ensuring you navigate each country with confidence and awareness.
Lanes
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless turning. | Prohibited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
thailand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
south africa:
Allowed
thailand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
thailand:
Prohibited
Bus Lanes: Usage
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
south africa:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south africa:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common in South Africa | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
south africa:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
south africa:
40 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100-120 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
south africa:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Africa | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with a red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not applicable | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south africa:
Not applicable
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south africa:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| South africa | 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 left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadblocks are used frequently | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on offense | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and additional fines | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
south africa:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south africa:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Lane Usage: Left
south africa:
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
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 10111 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call general emergency number | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
south africa:
112 or 10111
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
south africa:
Call general emergency number
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south africa:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South africa | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Common fine; mandatory use | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common with road checkpoints | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south africa:
Fines applicable
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days