Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

A traffic sign on Bangkok’s bustling Sukhumvit Road, close to Thong Lo, has got social media buzzing with debate and confusion.

 

The sign shows directional arrows: the right lane must turn right, the left lane is solely for going straight, but the middle lane is marked with both straight and right-turn arrows. This has left drivers perplexed -– should you stop and wait in the middle lane if you intend to turn right?

 

Approaching the intersection, the road markings change from white dashed to solid white lines, which indicates no overtaking or lane change, strictly follow the signs! So, what's the rule here?

 

It turns out that drivers in the middle lane can indeed stop at a red light to wait for a right turn. Even if the light is green for straight but not for right, waiting in the middle lane is okay until the right turn is safe and authorised, as reported by the Bangkok Post.

 

Bangkok is no stranger to chaotic traffic, with congestion a common sight, especially during peak hours. The city is attempting to tackle this by improving road signage and encouraging the use of public transport to ease the pressure on the roads.

 

To avoid confusion and ensure a smoother journey through the city's hectic streets, motorists should pay close attention to traffic signs.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-08

 

It's not confusing at all, it is perfectly logical, as are the painted arrows on the road.

We have the same on Pattanakarn in to soi 25. Sign is clear, road markings are clear. You still get beeped at for waiting to turn right in the lane that has straight and right.

I saw this article in the Bangkok Post and wondered why, it couldn't be clearer or more logical.

 

Clear as a bell. 

Only Thai's could be confused by this 😂

To be fair, it did say it was sparked by the “netizens” …..a term for a person with more legs than brain cells. 
“Yeah, but, no, but, wot appens if?”……debate starts and slow news day rules promote it to Headline status

I guess the only confusion is because of the solid white lines - according to the article.

In my experience however they seem to make little difference in most instances

Why is the media pretending that road signs mean anything more than a suggestion in Thailand? 

36 minutes ago, topt said:

I guess the only confusion is because of the solid white lines - according to the article.

In my experience however they seem to make little difference in most instances

 

We have multiple roads with signs similar to this near me, tons of people turning right from a straight lane only, and people going straight from a turn only lane. It's so common that I wonder if Thai's have trouble thinking with more than one brain cell.

The signs are meant to confuse motorists so the police can extract on-the-spot fines.

10 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

We have multiple roads with signs similar to this near me, tons of people turning right from a straight lane only, and people going straight from a turn only lane. It's so common that I wonder if Thai's have trouble thinking with more than one brain cell.

 

Or the dude in the extreme left lane at the red light that swings a u-turn in front of 5 lanes of waiting traffic. I've never done that (gulp), but it's been suggested to me that it's a very expedient manoeuvre. 

This is Thailand so it makes perfect sense.

We have a similar set up. 

But ours is done properly , the lights for straight and turn right change together , thus relieving the congestion in the turn right lane.

This allows a steady flow of traffic.

It would be annoying and cause traffic congestion to have a middle lane and a right turn lane together if the lights do not work together.

 

Why a thumbs down ?

at least make a comment to go with it so I know why you disagree.

4 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

Why is the media pretending that road signs mean anything more than a suggestion in Thailand? 

not even a suggestion - more a waste of good paint.

9 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

It's not confusing at all, it is perfectly logical, as are the painted arrows on the road.

We have the same on Pattanakarn in to soi 25. Sign is clear, road markings are clear. You still get beeped at for waiting to turn right in the lane that has straight and right.

I saw this article in the Bangkok Post and wondered why, it couldn't be clearer or more logical.

 

I suppose "Logical" must be "Relative" then.

I was in this same middle lane years ago and stopped whilst the green was on for going straight. Some confused Thai started to honk me as if I have misread the signs.. and even gave me dirty looks.... 🤣

 

 

Only the Thais are confused.

Quote

Confusing Bangkok Traffic Sign Sparks Online Debate

I'm impressed that there is a public debate about traffic rules, maybe awareness is rising?

5 hours ago, NE1 said:

We have a similar set up. 

But ours is done properly , the lights for straight and turn right change together , thus relieving the congestion in the turn right lane.

This allows a steady flow of traffic.

It would be annoying and cause traffic congestion to have a middle lane and a right turn lane together if the lights do not work together.

 

Nail on the head

5 hours ago, NE1 said:

We have a similar set up. 

But ours is done properly , the lights for straight and turn right change together , thus relieving the congestion in the turn right lane.

This allows a steady flow of traffic.

It would be annoying and cause traffic congestion to have a middle lane and a right turn lane together if the lights do not work together.

 

You are exactly correct, and that's the only thing that makes sense with these signs. Any traffic marking that is not 100% clear to all drivers is nothing more than an accident waiting to happen.

Nothing wrong with the sign. Used in many countries. Left and right lanes are designated for a single purpose. Middle lane can be used for going straight OR turning right.

 

Very simple and used in many parts of THIS country, as well as others.

 

i can think of many examples of confusing road signs, this is not one of them.

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

A traffic sign on Bangkok’s bustling Sukhumvit Road, close to Thong Lo, has got social media buzzing with debate and confusion.

 

The sign shows directional arrows: the right lane must turn right, the left lane is solely for going straight, but the middle lane is marked with both straight and right-turn arrows. This has left drivers perplexed -– should you stop and wait in the middle lane if you intend to turn right?

 

Approaching the intersection, the road markings change from white dashed to solid white lines, which indicates no overtaking or lane change, strictly follow the signs! So, what's the rule here?

 

It turns out that drivers in the middle lane can indeed stop at a red light to wait for a right turn. Even if the light is green for straight but not for right, waiting in the middle lane is okay until the right turn is safe and authorised, as reported by the Bangkok Post.

 

Bangkok is no stranger to chaotic traffic, with congestion a common sight, especially during peak hours. The city is attempting to tackle this by improving road signage and encouraging the use of public transport to ease the pressure on the roads.

 

To avoid confusion and ensure a smoother journey through the city's hectic streets, motorists should pay close attention to traffic signs.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-08

 

Since when have thais took any notice of roads signs 🤷🏼

Perfectly clear to me.

15 hours ago, Artisi said:

Clear as a bell. 

The right lane is for those turning right. The middle one is for those who « might » turn right. And the left one is for those that are sure they want to go straight on. Clear as mud.

8 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

I'm impressed that there is a public debate about traffic rules, maybe awareness is rising?

I'm impressed that any Thai even saw the sign let alone queried it. 

 

 

      If you want confusing, just take a look at Thepprasit Road, maybe my least favorite road in Pattaya and even more so after the makeover.  They have painted large white 'forward' arrows on the parking lane road sections next to the U-turn lanes.   The traffic is supposed to, in ballet-like movements, segue to the left in these areas into the parking lane to get around the cars waiting to U-turn.   But, they have neglected to paint these sections of the parking lane with no parking stripes, so you're now supposed to magically transport yourself, and your car, through all the cars that are legally parked in the, which is it, traffic? parking? lane.  

16 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Only Thai's could be confused by this 😂

They dont care anyway.They turn when they want not looking at the signs.Same they killing pedestrians try to cross the streets when they have green light for walking.

10 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

I'm impressed that there is a public debate about traffic rules, maybe awareness is rising?

it are oly the farangs on an debating

1 hour ago, vangrop said:

it are oly the farangs on an debating

What?

On 8/8/2025 at 3:36 AM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

A traffic sign on Bangkok’s bustling Sukhumvit Road, close to Thong Lo, has got social media buzzing with debate and confusion.

 

The sign shows directional arrows: the right lane must turn right, the left lane is solely for going straight, but the middle lane is marked with both straight and right-turn arrows. This has left drivers perplexed -– should you stop and wait in the middle lane if you intend to turn right?

 

 

To avoid confusion and ensure a smoother journey through the city's hectic streets, motorists should pay close attention to traffic signs.

 

 

Corrected sign

On 8/8/2025 at 6:49 AM, topt said:

I guess the only confusion is because of the solid white lines - according to the article.

In my experience however they seem to make little difference in most instances

Well they made no difference to the two vehicles crossing the left one. Probably because the car in front was waiting to turn right, and they wanted past.