Driving Differences: Spain vs. Thailand Safety Tips
Exploring the contrasts in motoring regulations between Spain and Thailand reveals essential insights for travelers. Key distinctions include the driving side—right in Spain and left in Thailand—as well as varying speed limits and lane usage. Understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a secure journey in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Spain | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
spain:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
spain:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
thailand:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Spain | 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 | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 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 | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
spain:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
spain:
20-30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
spain:
80-90 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
70-80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
spain:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
spain:
Yes, commonly used
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Spain | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Spain | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with white background and red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
spain:
Not used in Spain
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Spain | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Spain | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must carry license. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required. | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield in some areas. | 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
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
spain:
Mandatory.
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory.
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Spain | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Used more frequently in urgent situations | 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
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Spain | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe penalties, including high fines | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Enforcement: Random Checks
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Spain | 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
spain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
spain:
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
| Spain | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check with local authorities | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or RACE | 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
spain:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
spain:
Check with local authorities
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
spain:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Spain | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines and potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €200, mandatory use | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €200, points on license | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €200, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; discount if paid promptly. | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
spain:
€200, mandatory use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
spain:
€200, points on license
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
spain:
€200, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days