Driving in Thailand vs. Tunisia: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the road regulations of Thailand and Tunisia reveals fascinating contrasts that every traveler should be aware of. From driving orientation—left in Thailand and right in Tunisia—to distinct speed limits and lane usage, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in these vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
thailand:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
thailand:
Prohibited
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
thailand:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
thailand:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
thailand:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
thailand:
50-60 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
thailand:
50 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
thailand:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
60-80 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
thailand:
90-120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
80-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Signals
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Thailand | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Thai; some signs include English | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Warning signs are triangular | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
thailand:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for registration renewal | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use to alert other drivers | Moderate use |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
thailand:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment | Substantial; varies by offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
thailand:
0.03%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
tunisia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 1193 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
thailand:
191
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
thailand:
1193
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Thailand | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from ฿500 | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines up to ฿500 | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines up to ฿500 | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines start from ฿500 | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be paid at the scene | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 days | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay