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

[cooked]

There is, or used to be, a law in Switzerland obliging you to slow down and honk when approaching children on the road. Can't see that one working in Thailand. 

I heard this story 40 years ago so it must date back to the 60's: In Iran somebody passed a law forbidding the constant use of horns. Some people actually had a switch that allowed the horn to sound incessantly. The law didn't work. They set up wayside reception committees and:  stripped the guys to their underpants, shaved their heads and painted them red, and confiscated their car and their shoes. After a few days of seeing red headed guys limping down the road, honking ceased. three days the honking ceased. Ah, to be a dictator!

[kevozman1]

On 6/6/2025 at 3:19 AM, 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.

 

Generally in Western Europe (I can't speak for the US) horns are used appropriately overall and the standard of driving is notably better than Thailand -  actually no comparison. Excessive horn use would be places such as South Asia or Vietnam.

[blaze master]

On 6/5/2025 at 9:53 PM, GreasyFingers said:

As I tell my wife, I will not accept her fears.

 

Less than 2 days later and a thread appears on here where this exact scenario happens. Crazy.

[Merrill]

On 6/6/2025 at 2:24 AM, Thumbs said:

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

Not so in Rotherham it’s like driving in India

[GanDoonToonPet]

4 hours ago, kwilco said:

Clearly incorrect

 

...because... 🤔

[Barnet1900]

Thais put hazard lights on because they think it means GO STRAIGHT.

 

At a roundabout the car coming onto the circle will assume priority, so everyone copies.

 

Drive on pavements, up hard shoulders, the list goes on and on.

 

Could it be that they don't use their horns because they don't know how to?

 

Noise reduction here is non existent. Neighbours, dogs, music, talking in public....can't see why they'd take offence in a car, especially when they usually know what they're up to.

 

Possibly the fight/flight reaction from the shock.

[kwilco]

8 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

 

...because... 🤔

Thailand is in red and France is in blue - it also isn't a cut and dried black and white thing (blue/red in this case) - do you really need it expalining?

[lordgrinz]

I did my part last night with the family in tow, coming back from dinner, 7 motorcycles travelling in the far left lane against traffic, this was within a 500 meter distance of my left turn to go home. I sat on the horn while each of them freaked out and tried to climb the curb to avoid me mowing them down.

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

I did my part last night with the family in tow, coming back from dinner, 7 motorcycles travelling in the far left lane against traffic, this was within a 500 meter distance of my left turn to go home. I sat on the horn while each of them freaked out and tried to climb the curb to avoid me mowing them down.

 

I have two sets of air horns (triple trumpet ones) mounted behind the front bumper of my pickup, they do a fantastic jog of scaring the sheet outta scoot riders !

[rickudon]

Have twice been chased by Thai drivers after a single warning toot. I wait in the car for them to come to me. They cannot see if I have a weapon, and have retreated each time.