Thailand vs Turkey: Essential Driving Differences Uncovered
When navigating the roads of Thailand and Turkey, understanding their unique regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. While Thailand drives on the left, Turkey favors the right. From speed limits to lane usage, knowing these distinctions is essential for travelers aiming to drive responsibly abroad.
Lanes
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
thailand:
Left
turkey:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
thailand:
Prohibited
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
thailand:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Standard
thailand:
50-60 km/h
turkey:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
thailand:
50 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
60-80 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
thailand:
90-120 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
thailand:
90 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
80-90 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
thailand:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
thailand:
Yes
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Thailand | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Thai; some signs include English | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Warning signs are triangular | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
thailand:
Not allowed
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for registration renewal | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
thailand:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
thailand:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use to alert other drivers | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
thailand:
0.03%
turkey:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
turkey:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
turkey:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 1193 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
thailand:
191
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
thailand:
1193
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Thailand | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from ฿500 | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines up to ฿500 | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines up to ฿500 | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines start from ฿500 | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be paid at the scene | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 days | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges