Report Thai Roads: Quiet Amidst Chaos, The Culture of Low Horn Use

[Mylo51]

I never use my horn to clear traffic congestion. That would be a gross waste of time. 

[CygnusX1]

52 minutes ago, Atlantic Cod said:

Low horn use🤣🤣🤣🤣 compared to Mumbai...???

Yes, people who’ve never been to India have no idea of the incessant, eternal, never, ever ceasing blaring of horns there. Drove me crazy after just a week in that country. Thailand’s wonderful in comparison, noisy motorbikes aren’t pleasant, but they don’t even come close to the insanity inducing car horns in India.

[Grumpy one]

1 hour ago, Thumbs said:

I use my horn more in 1 day here than I did 25 yrs driving in the uk

I wore out a perfectly good finger in my first 2 years driving here.

Now that its old and worn out like the rest of me, I ponder the question, will these idiots live as long as me.

I hope not for the country's sake

[Rich426]

Mild Warnings: A slightly louder honk is permissible if there’s a sudden lane change or a looming accident risk. 

 

A louder honk?? I never knew horns had a volume control, even after 38 years in the automotive industry. 

[lordgrinz]

22 minutes ago, Rich426 said:

Mild Warnings: A slightly louder honk is permissible if there’s a sudden lane change or a looming accident risk. 

 

A louder honk?? I never knew horns had a volume control, even after 38 years in the automotive industry. 

 

If it was permitted, I would attach a train horn to my car.

[Pompeygeezer]

They haven't got any patience on the roads though. 

[wavodavo]

1 hour ago, Mylo51 said:

As an expat living here in Thailand for many years, I'm still amazed at how little use horns actually get. Coming from America, it was a shock at first. While horn use in Western countries can sometimes be too much and abused....here, in Thailand...it's too little. Common-sense horn use is and always will be an effective way to prevent accidents.

 

1 hour ago, Mylo51 said:

As an expat living here in Thailand for many years, I'm still amazed at how little use horns actually get. Coming from America, it was a shock at first. While horn use in Western countries can sometimes be too much and abused....here, in Thailand...it's too little. Common-sense horn use is and always will be an effective way to prevent accidents.

Anyone been to Manila ? they go crazey on the horn in the 24hour traffic jam everday . It's absolute madness and don't worry about anybody jumping out of the car that you just honked because they all carry knives and guns so it's always on the cards that you might get a lead sandwich or your throat cut.

[NoshowJones]

12 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

You can drive like a total dick in Thailand and no one (not even the police) will say or do anything. That's part of how they've cultivated their culture of dangerous driving.

IMO The biggest reason for dangerous driving amongst most Thai's is a very sad lack of common sense.

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, Thumbs said:

I use my horn more in 1 day here than I did 25 yrs driving in the uk

So do I and every time a motorcyclist comes up the wrong side of the road I never fail to blast them when I ride next to them in the opposite direction.

[JAG]

I have to say that a lot of horns here, particularly on lorries, seem to emit an undignified squawk like a ruptured duck rather than a motor vehicle warning device. I have always rather put that down to them being worn out by overuse, they seem to use them at every opportunity!

[Leadidge]

13 hours ago, Dmitry2222 said:

Then let's remove the car horns during the manufacturing stage for the Thai market. And the problem will be solved)

 

13 hours ago, Dmitry2222 said:

Then let's remove the car horns during the manufacturing stage for the Thai market. And the problem will be solved)

There is no problem!! 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Patong2021]

Quietness? puhleeeze.  The pickup trucks with the loudspeakers blaring painfully loud idiotic advertisements for useless products, or political campaigns, or the  mind numbing Tonight, Tonight Boxing at Bangla Stadium.

Add to that the modified motor cycle  exhausts that are too loud, and the  tuk tuks that blare 100db "music". So peaceful.

[Kat Hao]

Driving 25 in a 60 zone is ok, even though everyone has to cross a yellow line to change lanes and face oncoming traffic in order to pass the slow vehicle.  Slow drivers are a bigger hazard that speeding.  But don't honk the horn.  Pull out of a driveway or small soi without looking -- slam on your brakes but don't honk.  The cultural consideration is lovely, but the reality is not so pleasant.  The horn has a purpose, the worse the drivers the more important the horn becomes.    

[FlorC]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

• Blind Spots: Drivers are encouraged to honk at curves or areas with limited visibility to warn others, including pedestrians.
• Gentle Reminders: A light tap on the horn is suitable for letting another driver know that a traffic light has changed, for instance.
• Mild Warnings: A slightly louder honk is permissible if there’s a sudden lane change or a looming accident risk.

I use the horn to warn dogs , cats , birds , chickens on or near the road.

 

Some trucks and busses honk when passing in opposite direction , probably because they know each other (same company).

[Purdey]

Strange. I remember reading, I think it was in the book “My Footloose Newspaper Life” by Alexander MacDonald, that people stood on their horns all day in Bangkok. We are lucky today not to be deaf.

[Espanol]

 

The high number of Thai drivers carrying firearms, and the high rate of road rage cases, are also good reasons not to honk too much.

[loong]

On 6/5/2025 at 4:22 PM, snoop1130 said:

However, it is advisable to avoid using the horn in sensitive areas such as near schools or hospitals, where maintaining a quiet environment is essential.

I actually avoid walking past a school in the morning where the policeman operates a crossing patrol for the students. No honking, but not a quiet environment due to the constant, deafeningly loud blasts from the policeman's whistle!

[Ubonian Canadian]

10 hours ago, ronster said:

Because using the horn usually triggers some lunatic to jump out of their car shouting and waving some form or weapon at you for doing so !!

Before visiting Thailand for the first time I went to Vietnam for 6 months. I couldn't believe the noise of the horns. Seemed everyone was beeping everywhere. Even on straight streets with no obstacles. It was annoying sitting in a cafe having morning coffee and reading a book with all the horns going off. I rented a motorbike one day and took it back 2 hours later as it was mayhem on the roads. With all the beeping going on you didn't know what the hell you were supposed to be avoiding and from where. Talk about unnecessary noise, sheesh. Maybe that was how they kept the crime rate down. I never saw an issue the whole time I was there, and I did a lot of walking.

[Spilornis]

9 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

Yes, people who’ve never been to India have no idea of the incessant, eternal, never, ever ceasing blaring of horns there. Drove me crazy after just a week in that country. Thailand’s wonderful in comparison, noisy motorbikes aren’t pleasant, but they don’t even come close to the insanity inducing car horns in India.

Indian horn use is considered good driving in the sense that it signals awareness to other drivers.

I agree though it makes me mad with the over use of horns

[Hunz Kittisak]

As with all thai drivers, I only use the horn in lieu of a Wai when driving past any Buddha statue 

[daejung]

In France, same as in Thailand; The use of a car horn is strictly regulated and is generally prohibited in built-up areas unless there is an immediate danger

[kwilco]

47 minutes ago, daejung said:

In France, same as in Thailand; The use of a car horn is strictly regulated and is generally prohibited in built-up areas unless there is an immediate danger

 

Actually, I’d say it’s almost the opposite. The French have always had a strong culture of using their horns—so much so that specific legislation had to be introduced to try and reduce the habit.

In Thailand, by contrast, the horn is seen as inherently aggressive. Raising your voice, let alone sounding a horn in frustration, is heavily frowned upon. Thai regulations on horn use aren’t aimed at curbing overuse—they exist to maintain the already minimal use and to discourage any escalation of tension.

If you visit some of the old French colonies, you’ll still notice how that fondness for the horn lingers—a bit of cultural carryover that highlights just how different the underlying attitudes are.