Thailand vs Vanuatu: Unique Driving Differences Explained
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Thailand and Vanuatu, where fascinating contrasts in road regulations and safety practices emerge. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol tolerance, these countries offer distinct approaches to vehicular navigation. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth journey during your travels.
Lanes
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| 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. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Driving Side
thailand:
Left
vanuatu:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
thailand:
Prohibited
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
vanuatu:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
thailand:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
thailand:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
thailand:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
thailand:
50-60 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
thailand:
50 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
thailand:
90 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
thailand:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
60-80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
thailand:
90-120 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
thailand:
90 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
80-90 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
thailand:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
thailand:
Yes
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Thailand | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Thai; some signs include English | English; 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
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
thailand:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for registration renewal | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Insurance
thailand:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
thailand:
Not mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use to alert other drivers | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
vanuatu:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Professional Drivers
thailand:
0.03%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Roundabouts
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
vanuatu:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
vanuatu:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 1193 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
Contact: General Emergency
thailand:
191
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
thailand:
1193
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Penalties And Fines
| Thailand | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from ฿500 | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines up to ฿500 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines up to ฿500 | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines start from ฿500 | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be paid at the scene | Possible; or through police stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
vanuatu:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay