Driving Differences: Thailand vs Venezuela Explained
When navigating the roads of Thailand and Venezuela, understanding the unique rules and regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Thailand versus the right in Venezuela, as well as varying speed limits and overtaking rules. This comparison will help you drive confidently and securely abroad.
Lanes
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
thailand:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
thailand:
Prohibited
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
thailand:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Cycle Lanes: Presence
thailand:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
thailand:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
thailand:
50-60 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
thailand:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
thailand:
90 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
thailand:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
60-80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
thailand:
90-120 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
thailand:
90 km/h
venezuela:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
80-90 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Signals
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Thailand | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Thai; some signs include English | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Warning signs are triangular | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
thailand:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for registration renewal | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
thailand:
Not mandatory
venezuela:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use to alert other drivers | 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
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
thailand:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
thailand:
0.03%
venezuela:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
venezuela:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
venezuela:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 1193 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
thailand:
191
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
thailand:
1193
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
venezuela:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Thailand | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines up to ฿500 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines start from ฿500 | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be paid at the scene | Yes, sometimes possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay