Motorbikes driving in the Right- Hand lane..

[bramds]

Every road vehicle should stay on the left, and you can only go to the right to overtake slower vehicles.

Just a pity that those cars doing 40 in the right lane don't get fined.

I got fined for riding on the right because I wanted to U-turn, cops just told me I couldn't U-turn at the next junction. I didn't know, was my first time in that area. Still had to pay at the police station.

Didn't know where that was, so a cop rode in front of me on his bike. First thing he did was go to the right and make an illegal U-turn.

Still bashing myself for not having my camera on my bike that day.

[casualbiker]

Section 35 (400-1000B)

The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling 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.

Here the motorcycle is mentioned specifically as always having to stay to the left. Perhaps the vehicule of low speed or traveling at lower speed than those of other vehicules threw you off.. But that is just an other catagory. All of these always need to stay to the left.

Nope.. "The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling at lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in the same direction," refers to ALL listed vehicles exactly the same as UK road rules. There is NOTHING specific to motorcycles, but Thai police choose to read it like you did.. Only slower moving vehicles, so if they are doing 60 kmh then you can certainly overtake in the outside lane.

The quoted text lists vehicles that shall stay on the left side. The list includes motorcycles. It is not stating that it is only about vehicles of low speed. You can replace the colons with "or" to make it clearer if you want:

"The driver of a truck OR passenger vehicle OR motorcycle OR vehicle of low speed OR travelling at lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in the same direction".

If you want to argue then argue what a passenger vehicle is defined as in Thailand as it might include pretty much all cars.

You probably need a fast ATV to not fall into the above definition

Now let me make it accurate.

"The driver of a truck OR passenger vehicle OR motorcycle OR vehicle of low speed travelling at lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in the same direction".

There you go. It basically says, stay in left lane unless you are overtaking a slower vehicle. Which generally you are if you are in the right lane.

There are NO special laws concerning motorcycles and lanes!

[jaywalker]

Section 33 of the Land Traffic Act (1979) state that all vehicles should keep left and not beyond the middle unless:

There is an obstruction on the road

The road is prescribed as one-way

The road is less than 6m wide

Section 34 states:

If the road is divided into two or more traffic lanes in the same direction the driver shall keep to the outermost left-hand lane. If the outermost left-hand lane is a bus lane, the driver shall keep close to the bus lane, Except the following exceptions:

There is an obstruction on the road

The road is prescribed as one-way

It is necessary to enter the correct lane upon approaching a junction

when overtaking another vehicle

when driving faster than vehicles in the left-hand side lane

There are no clauses (in the English version) that state any specific regulations to motorcycles that are not also applied to cars and trucks except the required use of a helmet for all on the bike.

I have a laminated version of these two sections in Thai in my wallet, but have never had to use it.

Refuse to pay the 200 and stand your ground.

Hey DualSportBiker, can you give us a download link please?

Whether it works or not, I'd love to see the cop's look of bewilderment when I ask him to read something.

Usually the obstruction in the left lane is the freaking kamikaze cops that run out in front of me.

I almost hit one one day. He was walking across from the right. I was looking in my mirror to see what they were pulling folks over for & here this yoyo was not 6 inches off my driver's door.

I was headed to Sattahip out of Pattaya & if I'd have clipped him, I don't think I'd have stopped till I got to Cambodia. Scared the shit out of me. It was like he had a death wish.

Edited March 24, 2015 by jaywalker

[DualSportBiker]

CasualBiker - but precise reader...

I read this the same way - there are NO specific clauses for bikes, that is an all-as-equal clause taken in singular or individually, but not differentiated. Robblok is wrong when stating the motorcycle is called out specifically.

This clause should be interpreted to allow all the listed vehicle types to use the non-left lane if traveling faster than other vehicles traveling in the same direction.

Section 35 (400-1000B)

The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling 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.


Here the motorcycle is mentioned specifically as always having to stay to the left. Perhaps the vehicule of low speed or traveling at lower speed than those of other vehicules threw you off.. But that is just an other catagory. All of these always need to stay to the left.

Nope.. "The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling at lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in the same direction," refers to ALL listed vehicles exactly the same as UK road rules. There is NOTHING specific to motorcycles, but Thai police choose to read it like you did.. Only slower moving vehicles, so if they are doing 60 kmh then you can certainly overtake in the outside lane.

[jaywalker]

Just pure curiosity here, but how do British, Aussie, Kiwi, French, Spain, Greek etc. police stop traffic offenders?

I know in the US they get behind you & turn on their lights. They set up checkpoints on occasion that are lit up like the New York City skyline.

Never, EVER seen cops in the US run out in the road like an idiot though.

Edited March 24, 2015 by jaywalker

[alanrchase]

Yesterday on the way from Nakhon Phatom to Wat Raiking (AH 4 as far as I know) highway patrol decided to sit up my ass on the bike. Had been in outside lane so not sure if they wanted to fine me. Far too close for comfort so undertook the car in front of me, moved to the outside lane, no problem. (Been done in the car for it but they fined my wife who was sat in the back because she had a Thai driving license. )

[casualbiker]

Just pure curiosity here, but how do British, Aussie, Kiwi, French, Spain, Greek etc. police stop traffic offenders?

I know in the US they get behind you & turn on their lights. They set up checkpoints on occasion that are lit up like the New York City skyline.

Never, EVER seen cops in the US run out in the road like an idiot though.

Pretty much same way.. Very rarely check points. Generally marked or unmarked car..with blues and two's.

[casualbiker]

Yesterday on the way from Nakhon Phatom to Wat Raiking (AH 4 as far as I know) highway patrol decided to sit up my ass on the bike. Had been in outside lane so not sure if they wanted to fine me. Far too close for comfort so undertook the car in front of me, moved to the outside lane, no problem. (Been done in the car for it but they fined my wife who was sat in the back because she had a Thai driving license. )

Confused... You were on the bike or the cop was??

[DualSportBiker]

Heavy use of cameras in the UK; see a flash behind you and expect a report, photo, and summons/fine in the mail...

Just pure curiosity here, but how do British, Aussie, Kiwi, French, Spain, Greek etc. police stop traffic offenders?

I know in the US they get behind you & turn on their lights. They set up checkpoints on occasion that are lit up like the New York City skyline.

Never, EVER seen cops in the US run out in the road like an idiot though.

Edited March 24, 2015 by DualSportBiker

[jaywalker]

Yesterday on the way from Nakhon Phatom to Wat Raiking (AH 4 as far as I know) highway patrol decided to sit up my ass on the bike. Had been in outside lane so not sure if they wanted to fine me. Far too close for comfort so undertook the car in front of me, moved to the outside lane, no problem. (Been done in the car for it but they fined my wife who was sat in the back because she had a Thai driving license. )

I was in the middle of Rayong on my way back from Ko Chang once. Had the wife with me & a couple American friends on vacation.

This was downtown traffic. It'd be like giving everyone in the inside lane of Pattaya Klang (in front of Foodland) a ticket.

Cop gave me a ticket for being in the wrong lane.

I asked the wife what he was talking about & she blurted out, "Just give him some money!"

My American friends were duly and truly impressed with the RTP. I had already told my buddy Charlie that it wasn't a matter of IF, but WHEN we'd get pulled over for some imaginary offense.

200 baht tea Mekong whisky money & we were on our way.

[robblok]

Section 35 (400-1000B)

The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling 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.

Here the motorcycle is mentioned specifically as always having to stay to the left. Perhaps the vehicule of low speed or traveling at lower speed than those of other vehicules threw you off.. But that is just an other catagory. All of these always need to stay to the left.

Nope.. "The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling at lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in the same direction," refers to ALL listed vehicles exactly the same as UK road rules. There is NOTHING specific to motorcycles, but Thai police choose to read it like you did.. Only slower moving vehicles, so if they are doing 60 kmh then you can certainly overtake in the outside lane.

Not really.. these are seperate categories.. i got a Thai translate the original for me and he came to the same conclusion. Its just bad translation here. Passenger vehicle is not a normal car.. so the normal car is not there.

It comes down to bad translating.. I had the translating done by a Thai who was raised in the UK and is quite smart. He is a user here too.

Edited March 24, 2015 by robblok

[DualSportBiker]

Right here.

Section 33 of the Land Traffic Act (1979) state that all vehicles should keep left and not beyond the middle unless:

There is an obstruction on the road

The road is prescribed as one-way

The road is less than 6m wide

Section 34 states:

If the road is divided into two or more traffic lanes in the same direction the driver shall keep to the outermost left-hand lane. If the outermost left-hand lane is a bus lane, the driver shall keep close to the bus lane, Except the following exceptions:

There is an obstruction on the road

The road is prescribed as one-way

It is necessary to enter the correct lane upon approaching a junction

when overtaking another vehicle

when driving faster than vehicles in the left-hand side lane

There are no clauses (in the English version) that state any specific regulations to motorcycles that are not also applied to cars and trucks except the required use of a helmet for all on the bike.

I have a laminated version of these two sections in Thai in my wallet, but have never had to use it.

Refuse to pay the 200 and stand your ground.

Hey DualSportBiker, can you give us a download link please?

Whether it works or not, I'd love to see the cop's look of bewilderment when I ask him to read something.

Usually the obstruction in the left lane is the freaking kamikaze cops that run out in front of me.

I almost hit one one day. He was walking across from the right. I was looking in my mirror to see what they were pulling folks over for & here this yoyo was not 6 inches off my driver's door.

I was headed to Sattahip out of Pattaya & if I'd have clipped him, I don't think I'd have stopped till I got to Cambodia. Scared the shit out of me. It was like he had a death wish.

[jaywalker]

Just pure curiosity here, but how do British, Aussie, Kiwi, French, Spain, Greek etc. police stop traffic offenders?

I know in the US they get behind you & turn on their lights. They set up checkpoints on occasion that are lit up like the New York City skyline.

Never, EVER seen cops in the US run out in the road like an idiot though.

Pretty much same way.. Very rarely check points. Generally marked or unmarked car..with blues and two's.

But they don't run out in the road in front of you right?

I'm no fan of the nanny state, but I saw a Chevrolet pickup the other day here in Georgia that I would have never dreamed was a police car. He was lit up 9 ways to Sunday on his way somewhere in a hurry.

Sad to say, but I treat every car like a cop car in the US if it's behind me.

Again, I'm no fan of the nanny state, but obeying clearly posted traffic laws is something I agree with.

Selective enforcement by idiots that run out in the road is pretty stupid, but TIT.... Or I should say That is Thailand.

I've only seen one noisy motorcycle here in Georgia in the past 2 months, BUT, on the flip-side, I've only seen ONE decent looking woman here in the past 2 months.

Lots of Hogs here & they aren't bikes.

[tingtongfarang]

Section 35 (400-1000B)

The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling 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.

Here the motorcycle is mentioned specifically as always having to stay to the left. Perhaps the vehicule of low speed or traveling at lower speed than those of other vehicules threw you off.. But that is just an other catagory. All of these always need to stay to the left.

Nope.. "The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling at lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in the same direction," refers to ALL listed vehicles exactly the same as UK road rules. There is NOTHING specific to motorcycles, but Thai police choose to read it like you did.. Only slower moving vehicles, so if they are doing 60 kmh then you can certainly overtake in the outside lane.

Not really.. these are seperate categories.. i got a Thai translate the original for me and he came to the same conclusion. Its just bad translation here. Passenger vehicle is not a normal car.. so the normal car is not there.

It comes down to bad translating.. I had the translating done by a Thai who was raised in the UK and is quite smart. He is a user here too.

Not sure but i think in the UK highway code a passenger vehicle is a normal private car, psv = public service vehicle would mean bus or van used for transporting passengers... i guess a taxi is also a psv.

[papa al]

It is funnest to travel in the right lane.

Way right.

Against traffic.

Thai way.

Try it.

Nobody cares.

Very fun.

[Daffy D]

Are motorbikes allowed to overtake on the inside lane?

I'm referring to travelling along on the nearside lane, the one on the left, and being overtaken by a motorbike on the inside, my left side.

There are enough things to watch out for when driving without the constant hazard of bikes zipping past on the inside.

[robblok]

Section 35 (400-1000B)

The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling 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.

Here the motorcycle is mentioned specifically as always having to stay to the left. Perhaps the vehicule of low speed or traveling at lower speed than those of other vehicules threw you off.. But that is just an other catagory. All of these always need to stay to the left.

Nope.. "The driver of a truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, vehicle of low speed or travelling at lower speed than those of other vehicles moving in the same direction," refers to ALL listed vehicles exactly the same as UK road rules. There is NOTHING specific to motorcycles, but Thai police choose to read it like you did.. Only slower moving vehicles, so if they are doing 60 kmh then you can certainly overtake in the outside lane.

Not really.. these are seperate categories.. i got a Thai translate the original for me and he came to the same conclusion. Its just bad translation here. Passenger vehicle is not a normal car.. so the normal car is not there.

It comes down to bad translating.. I had the translating done by a Thai who was raised in the UK and is quite smart. He is a user here too.

Not sure but i think in the UK highway code a passenger vehicle is a normal private car, psv = public service vehicle would mean bus or van used for transporting passengers... i guess a taxi is also a psv.

I had this translated long ago by user Tembly.. real nice guy and fluid in Thai. Passenger vehicle was not a normal car was a bus or something like this

the driver of a truck OR Passenger vehicle OR motorbike OR a low speed vehicle have to stay on the left that is how it read in thai. So this was a addition to the normal rule so bikes are screwed. (no mention there of normal cars)

This is also why trucks and busses get stopped if they are in the wrong lane.

I prefer it if you guys are right.. i really do. But i went back to basics.. the Thai language.. and not some non official translation.

[alanrchase]

Yesterday on the way from Nakhon Phatom to Wat Raiking (AH 4 as far as I know) highway patrol decided to sit up my ass on the bike. Had been in outside lane so not sure if they wanted to fine me. Far too close for comfort so undertook the car in front of me, moved to the outside lane, no problem. (Been done in the car for it but they fined my wife who was sat in the back because she had a Thai driving license. )

I was in the middle of Rayong on my way back from Ko Chang once. Had the wife with me & a couple American friends on vacation.

This was downtown traffic. It'd be like giving everyone in the inside lane of Pattaya Klang (in front of Foodland) a ticket.

Cop gave me a ticket for being in the wrong lane.

I asked the wife what he was talking about & she blurted out, "Just give him some money!"

My American friends were duly and truly impressed with the RTP. I had already told my buddy Charlie that it wasn't a matter of IF, but WHEN we'd get pulled over for some imaginary offense.

200 baht tea Mekong whisky money & we were on our way.

Sorry, not a tea money point. I was in the wrong. Just amusing they fined my wife who was sat in the back seat.

[robblok]

Are motorbikes allowed to overtake on the inside lane?

I'm referring to travelling along on the nearside lane, the one on the left, and being overtaken by a motorbike on the inside, my left side.

There are enough things to watch out for when driving without the constant hazard of bikes zipping past on the inside.

Actually according to those rules we have too.. and in Thailand everyone can undertake.. there is no law against it.

[papa al]

If you are all the way to the left, how will you be passed on that side?

If not, why begrudge the use of that route by Zippy?

Farangs!

[alanrchase]

Are motorbikes allowed to overtake on the inside lane?

I'm referring to travelling along on the nearside lane, the one on the left, and being overtaken by a motorbike on the inside, my left side.

There are enough things to watch out for when driving without the constant hazard of bikes zipping past on the inside.

Actually according to those rules we have too.. and in Thailand everyone can undertake.. there is no law against it.

What is your point? Undertaking is legal here. Wanted to undertake a motorway police car once in slow traffic in UK. Asked him to roll the window down to check he was ok with it.

[Daffy D]

"What is your point? Undertaking is legal here"

Is it ?

"Wanted to undertake a motorway police car once in slow traffic in UK. Asked him to roll the window down to check he was ok with it."

If that is the case things sure have changed

What is the point of slow vehicles keeping to the left lane? They should be allowed in any lane and be overtaken on all sides.

[alanrchase]

"What is your point? Undertaking is legal here"

Is it ?

"Wanted to undertake a motorway police car once in slow traffic in UK. Asked him to roll the window down to check he was ok with it."

If that is the case things sure have changed

What is the point of slow vehicles keeping to the left lane? They should be allowed in any lane and be overtaken on all sides.

Sorry if my post wound you up. Traffic jam/ accident caused the slow traffic. Police police in UK so just asked if he was OK with it. Many countries have road systems with legal undertaking. As long as you are aware of the fact no problem.

[casualbiker]

"What is your point? Undertaking is legal here"

Is it ?

"Wanted to undertake a motorway police car once in slow traffic in UK. Asked him to roll the window down to check he was ok with it."

If that is the case things sure have changed

What is the point of slow vehicles keeping to the left lane? They should be allowed in any lane and be overtaken on all sides.

Yes. In Thailand it is legal to overtake on either side.. Crazy but OK.

[seedy]

One Abusive Post Removed

[alanrchase]

The rules for motorbikes are based on 125cc. Bigger bikes are relatively cheap and more available now. Live in a small non tourist place and saw two Ducati in an hour, second one ridden by a 15 year old school kid. Two school kids on a Ducati Monster, Thailand. The fine for being stopped is so low as is the chance of being stopped. Do not suggest breaking the law but what is the law.

[lostinisaan]

What a stupid law. I have been stopped 3 times, for not being in the left lane. One of the times I did not get fined, because I was going to do a U-turn, at the next possible U-turn.

Yesterday I was pulled over driving in the left lane with my helmet on. The officer spoke to me in Thai, I replied in English "Not speak Thai" and then he just sent me off again.

Yesterday I was pulled over driving in the left lane with my helmet on. The officer spoke to me in Thai,

(DELETED)

Edited March 24, 2015 by seedy
troll / flaming

[casualbiker]

What a stupid law. I have been stopped 3 times, for not being in the left lane. One of the times I did not get fined, because I was going to do a U-turn, at the next possible U-turn.

Yesterday I was pulled over driving in the left lane with my helmet on. The officer spoke to me in Thai, I replied in English "Not speak Thai" and then he just sent me off again.

Yesterday I was pulled over driving in the left lane with my helmet on. The officer spoke to me in Thai,

Be happy that they don't speak Cameroonian. Do the cops in the UK speak Thai? .

Nope.. Polish and Urdu

[macknife]

To drive a bus in the UK you need a PCV license (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) so Passenger vehicle refers to buses etc ie all trucks, buses etc and MOTORCYCLES must keep to the left at all times if possible. This does not apply to cars. It's written in plain English.

To turn right or make a U-turn etc you can move to the right lane within a certain distance of the turn. I think it's 60m or 100m and the road has markers to show this. This is why police never(rarely) set up road blocks if a right/U-turn is nearby. I have been done a few times for this but I was always at fault. If I was making a U-turn and indicating that, I have never been stopped. If I was in the left lane I have never been stopped.

This topic has been done to death, we've had a few experts on here clarifying it and the law is correct. You can produce all the bits of paper you want but you are still wrong. Maybe the police will let you go as they can't be bothered to argue with the noisy farang but you are still wrong and there is no debating it.

Yes the law is outdated but it is the law. Anyway stop complaining about it, I'd happily pay 100-200B every now and then rather than being faced with the draconian laws that most of us face in our own countries.

[elviajero]

Are motorbikes allowed to overtake on the inside lane?

I'm referring to travelling along on the nearside lane, the one on the left, and being overtaken by a motorbike on the inside, my left side.

There are enough things to watch out for when driving without the constant hazard of bikes zipping past on the inside.

Actually according to those rules we have too.. and in Thailand everyone can undertake.. there is no law against it.

Yep.

As long as it's two or more lanes you can undertake.