Motorcycles in leftmost lane only! Are you joking?

[Johnsy]

You have to accept a lot of things to live here in Thailand but the following is just a bit too much for me....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/728142-motorcycle-middle-lane/?utm_source=newsletter-20140529-0738&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

<deleted> Thailand get real, there are big bikes on the road now and not just scooters, you need to update your traffic laws and regulations to accommodate the changes that are occurring in modes of transport and maybe reflect the possibility that you can be proactive about reducing the horrendous road toll here.

[robblok]

There been countless threads about this. I accept it that i cant go in any other lane. I just break that law always on my big bike for my own safety and comfort. When i get caught I just pay up and forget about it. The only bad thing is when you have to pay at a police station that is a wast of time.

But i would never stay on the most left lane with cars.. buses, taxi's and minivans all cutting you off to stop. Its dangerous to be there and much safer to be in an other lane provided you go fast enough not to bother other traffic.

[Berkshire]

Would this thread qualify as "barking at the moon"....?

But I will say that as a car driver, I do get annoyed when slow-moving motorcycles (usually tourists) venture out into the right lane and slows up traffic. If you can move with the flow of traffic, it wouldn't bother me if you were a motorcycle, truck, bus, or lawn mower. Just keep up!

[ignis]

Thought here the most left lane was for all the bikes going against the traffic ? + of course the odd cars and pickups even seen a few big trucks going against the traffic in the most left lane, not a very safe place for any size bike going with the traffic flow

[Mrjlh]

Even cars get a ticket for driving in the "right lane" when there are no other cars around them. Happens more than you think. It's the "passing" lane for all intent and purpose. And when the far left lane has pot holes it really suck for cars too! I've lost a couple of good tires because of it. So what makes you special? Just follow their sometimes outdated laws and go with it.

[robblok]

Would this thread qualify as "barking at the moon"....?

But I will say that as a car driver, I do get annoyed when slow-moving motorcycles (usually tourists) venture out into the right lane and slows up traffic. If you can move with the flow of traffic, it wouldn't bother me if you were a motorcycle, truck, bus, or lawn mower. Just keep up!

Of course.. keep up with the flow of traffic else your bothering others but the same goes for a car or anything else.

Nowadays most bikes can easily keep up with cars especially big bikes.. cars usually cant keep up with those.

[robblok]

Even cars get a ticket for driving in the "right lane" when there are no other cars around them. Happens more than you think. It's the "passing" lane for all intent and purpose. And when the far left lane has pot holes it really suck for cars too! I've lost a couple of good tires because of it. So what makes you special? Just follow their sometimes outdated laws and go with it.

I choose to pay tickets.. and we are not talking about a situation here when the left lane is free.. then id drive there.. we are talking when there is traffic on the left lane that moves slow or dangerous.

[Berkshire]

Would this thread qualify as "barking at the moon"....?

But I will say that as a car driver, I do get annoyed when slow-moving motorcycles (usually tourists) venture out into the right lane and slows up traffic. If you can move with the flow of traffic, it wouldn't bother me if you were a motorcycle, truck, bus, or lawn mower. Just keep up!

Of course.. keep up with the flow of traffic else your bothering others but the same goes for a car or anything else.

Nowadays most bikes can easily keep up with cars especially big bikes.. cars usually cant keep up with those.

Yes, agreed. But even big bikes don't seem to keep up with cars...or don't want to. Have to admit, going 130 on any bike is a little nuts out on those roads.

[marko kok prong]

Well it's not a law i have observed many people obeying,like most traffic rules here.

[farang000999]

Just stay in the left lane and stop being selfish trying to come into the car lanes. You are not wanted in these lanes. Driving a car is fun but having motorcyclists around you is not.

[robblok]

Would this thread qualify as "barking at the moon"....?

But I will say that as a car driver, I do get annoyed when slow-moving motorcycles (usually tourists) venture out into the right lane and slows up traffic. If you can move with the flow of traffic, it wouldn't bother me if you were a motorcycle, truck, bus, or lawn mower. Just keep up!

Of course.. keep up with the flow of traffic else your bothering others but the same goes for a car or anything else.

Nowadays most bikes can easily keep up with cars especially big bikes.. cars usually cant keep up with those.

Yes, agreed. But even big bikes don't seem to keep up with cars...or don't want to. Have to admit, going 130 on any bike is a little nuts out on those roads.

I can go a lot faster then that but often won't as it is dangerous. If I am not keeping up i move away. Simple and normal id say. Cruising speed really depends on the road.. but i have a max speed of 220.. not that i ever tried it.

Anyway on roads going that fast there is no police to check or catch you. They try to catch bikes when speeds are low and traffic too.

[robblok]

Just stay in the left lane and stop being selfish trying to come into the car lanes. You are not wanted in these lanes. Driving a car is fun but having motorcyclists around you is not.

Ill keep being selfish as it will probably save my life. The left lane is too dangerous to stay in. Unless its free of course and then you ont he car have to move over too or get fined.

[332]

Hardly ever stay in the left lane, except where I know the police usually have check points. 80% of my riding is done in the car only lanes under the tollway.

I probably get stopped about once every 18 months.

[332]

Just stay in the left lane and stop being selfish trying to come into the car lanes. You are not wanted in these lanes. Driving a car is fun but having motorcyclists around you is not.

Nobody is wanted in any lanes. Because then it would be a nice empty road.

[farang000999]

if you are just getting into right lane and staying there at the speed of traffic it is tolerable but once you start riding inbetween the lanes and passing sporadically it gets tiresome.

[Lancelot]

I was fined for being in the left lane in Bangkok- a red bus was stopped, blocking the left lane and I went around. Cop stopped me and I tried to explain but he just kept writing the ticket and escorted me across the street to pay 200 baht at a temporary cop shop.

Most road blocks are ticket factories, they are there to make money, not to make the streets safer

[robblok]

I was fined for being in the left lane in Bangkok- a red bus was stopped, blocking the left lane and I went around. Cop stopped me and I tried to explain but he just kept writing the ticket and escorted me across the street to pay 200 baht at a temporary cop shop.

Most road blocks are ticket factories, they are there to make money, not to make the streets safer

The rules are crazy especially for bigger bikes. They can out brake out accelerate most cars. But the rules are the rules, so I wont get angry when fined. I know perfectly well they can get me for this. I might not agree with the rules but I choose to break them.

[332]

I was fined for being in the left lane in Bangkok- a red bus was stopped, blocking the left lane and I went around. Cop stopped me and I tried to explain but he just kept writing the ticket and escorted me across the street to pay 200 baht at a temporary cop shop.

Most road blocks are ticket factories, they are there to make money, not to make the streets safer

Police checkpoints were banned in BKK about 2 years ago by the head cop. Citing that they were too dangerous and there were too many accidents happening around them.

The ban lasted about 7-8 months.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Many times the left lane is un-roadworthy from damage from trucks and no maintenance.

[somchaismith]

The same for pickups and trucks, too. If the coppers see you out of the left lane in them, bingo, you're busted. It is actually in the Thai road rules, so no, it's not made up.

[In Search of Space]

My most regular bust, tried sticking to the left-lane, but near impossible to do safely or comfortably. Just keep your eyes peeled.

[somchaismith]

My most regular bust, tried sticking to the left-lane, but near impossible to do safely or comfortably. Just keep your eyes peeled.

The left lanes are full of drain covers which aren't flush with the road (probably an understatement, as many of them are at least 2-inches below road level) and the left lane is often covered in all kinds of potholes, too.

[332]

It is actually in the Thai road rules, so no, it's not made up.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the rules state that you are to stay in the most left hand lane except when overtaking. So moving into an outer lane to overtake is perfectly legal.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong.

[robblok]

It is actually in the Thai road rules, so no, it's not made up.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the rules state that you are to stay in the most left hand lane except when overtaking. So moving into an outer lane to overtake is perfectly legal.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong.

I tried that one.. had the Thai law in English and Thai argued the point with the cop(yes i speak enough thai for that). Did not get me anywhere. So you might be right but depends on the cop maybe if you waste too much of his time he will let you go.

[somchaismith]

It is actually in the Thai road rules, so no, it's not made up.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the rules state that you are to stay in the most left hand lane except when overtaking. So moving into an outer lane to overtake is perfectly legal.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong.

Okay, get ready to stand corrected.

Rule for normal vehicles, and the rules for, trucks, motorcycles, pickups, and so on

www.ThaiLaws.com

5

Section 33

(500B)

[When driving, the driver shall keep to the left of

the road and must not drive beyond the

middle of the roadway, except following situations:

a.

there is obstruction on the road

b.

the road is prescribed as one-way

c.

the road width is less than 6m.

Section 34

(500B)

[if the road is divided into two or more traffic la

nes in the same direction, the driver shall

keep to the outermost left-hand side lane. If the

outermost left-hand side lane is a bus

lane, the driver shall keep close to the bus lane.

Except following situations:

a.

there is obstruction on the road

b.

the road is prescribed as one-way

c.

it is necessary to enter the correct lane upon appr

oaching a junction

d.

when overtaking another vehicle

e.

when driving faster than vehicles in the left-hand

side lane.

Section 35

(400-1000B)

The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycl

e, vehicle of low speed or traveling at

lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in

the same direction, shall keep to the

curbside of the roadway as close as possible.

If such a roadway is divided into two or more traff

ic lanes in the same direction or has a

bus lane specifically arranged on the left-hand sid

e, the driver shall drive the vehicle in the

outermost left-hand side lane or close to the bus l

ane, as the case may be.

http://thailaws.com/law/t_laws/tlaw0140_5.pdf

[332]

Er, Somchai Smith. That shows I'm correct.

If the road is divided into two or more traffic la

nes in the same direction, the driver shall

keep to the outermost left-hand side lane.

Except following situations:

d.

when overtaking another vehicle

e.

when driving faster than vehicles in the left-hand

side lane.

If you are driving faster than vehicles in the left lane, or overtaking them, you can legally ride in an outer lane. According to the thailaws.com link and other sources I have read before.

[somchaismith]

Er, Somchai Smith. That shows I'm correct.

If the road is divided into two or more traffic la

nes in the same direction, the driver shall

keep to the outermost left-hand side lane.

Except following situations:

d.

when overtaking another vehicle

e.

when driving faster than vehicles in the left-hand

side lane.

If you are driving faster than vehicles in the left lane, or overtaking them, you can legally ride in an outer lane. According to the thailaws.com link and other sources I have read before.

Section 35

(400-1000B)

The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or traveling at

lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in the same direction, shall keep to the

curbside of the roadway as close as possible.

If such a roadway is divided into two or more traffic lanes in the same direction or has a

bus lane specifically arranged on the left-hand side, the driver shall drive the vehicle in the

outermost left-hand side lane or close to the bus lane, as the case may be.

http://thailaws.com/.../tlaw0140_5.pdf

These are the facts and this is the law. You can argue untill your red in the face about it, read it and interpret it anyway you would care to, but the police will book you for not keeping to the left lane in a pickup on a motorcyle, lorry or bus, as these regulations are enforced

There are no exceptions for being out of the laft lane, as posters here have confirmed through practice.

Edited May 31, 2014 by somchaismith

[332]

Who'd argue? you keep on going or stop and give the guy 100b.

[kandi]

Funny, just a few days ago I've been fined because of exactly this law. I was driving on a four lane road on the 4th lane, because traffic there was faster and the other lanes were full of cars and busses stopping and turning left or coming out of a soi.

The police checkpoint seemed to be specifically build to catch exactly these people. They waved me out and took my license which I could pick up the following day for 300 Baht at their police station. First the guy asked for 400 Baht, but when I just gave him 300, he just accepted that.

A week earlier, I was stopped on a three lane road. Traffic was busy, I was driving in the second lane because I saw the police checkpoint in the first lane, blocking like 90% of it. A police man stopped me and told me I was not allowed to drive in that lane. As he couldn't speak any English, I pretended I couldn't speak Thai and after a few minutes he just let me go without any fine (after first asking for 400, then for 100 Baht).

From what I've learned (before that, I didn't know this law existed), on four or more lanes, I'm (as a motorbike driver) am allowed to only drive in the first or the second lane as the police man had told me. But I'm still not sure what about the other lanes. When I tried to ask the police guy (in Thai), he just walked away.

One lane is clear. Two lanes: Left only, except for overtaking. Three lanes? Lane one AND two and #3 for overtaking or do I still have only one lane on a three lane road? Four lanes and bigger I know I have two lanes and one for overtaking.

[Rooo]

Moved to Bike section.