Driving the Thai way

[padsist4]

What are the rules for driving in Thailand who "teaches" who to drive and what age is the " legal" age for driving. And why are all these roundabouts appearing when no one knows how to use them. Police are everywhere in nong khai stopping searching vehicles for speeding etc but no licence pay 200 baht and away you go speed pay 200 baht again away you go no helmet pay the fine and always carry 200 baht with you is the mentality of most Thais. I know most of you will only laugh at my question but after 2 fatalities of uk. Youngsters that I was close to on Thai roads I think they should do something to clear up the mess

[augustwest]

I only honk at scooters,but I know I'm driving the Thai way when Thais honk at me!

[MatteoBassini]

The rules are as long as you don't kill anyone or you got hazard lights going, it's perfectly acceptable.

[kartman]

Think it's better than driving the 'Russian way' .

[VocalNeal]

It is the "Asian" way. No different in Indonesia.

[pgrahmm]

I still think it's because they drive their cars the same way they ride their motorbikes....

That's how they learned & that's how they drive.....

[NoshowJones]

The rules are as long as you don't kill anyone or you got hazard lights going, it's perfectly acceptable.

Since when did the Thais bother about road fatalities?

[topt]

The rules are as long as you don't kill anyone or you got hazard lights going, it's perfectly acceptable.

Unless you are going straight across at a small cross road junction in which case many seem to use their hazards

[Fairynuff]

Rules? What rules? If there is one rule it goes something like this.... Do <deleted> you like cos you're the only vehicle on the road

[leither69]

I drive the Thai way now, before I drove like a British driver, now god help anybody that gets in my way. I don't give way, I don't say thank you, I squeeze in at the last moment and I honk my horn. I don't worry about Thais and my few verbal altercations have went my way. Som nam na

[oneday]

With respect to driving habits and road fatalities in Thailand, nothing is going to change for a few decades, NOTHING!

[thailandstupidlife]

Never met a single cop at Nongkhai...

[Pepper1959]

Never tooted my horn in Perth, because it is illegal. Now it is a bad habit and last night, I was advised by a local cop to stop, more for my safety ie so a gun or machete does get shown to me, I think. And to tell you the truth, every time I use my horn, it achieves nothing because the driver never responds. It is a bad habit for me to get out of because all I am doing is using it as a form of relieving my constant frustration.

[sawadee1947]

what do you expect? It's their country and their rules.

Do you want to change Thai culture?

Try to accept and to avoid any damages and accidents.

Don't insist in your "right"

Merry Christmas, brother

[gerry1011]

I much prefer farangs driving the Thai way than farangs insisting to drive "their way".

Also don't get why farangs must always complain about the way one drives in Thailand.

I do enjoy driving here.

The nightmare is when I have to drive in a western country.

Also, had only one accident in 15 years of driving in Thailand... With a cow (she escaped without a scratch) (apparently).

Edited December 26, 2015 by gerry1011

[Sutty]

No point in using horn or flashing lights just drop back and let them In a lot easier then over or undertake them and drop back in nice and close to them they soon back off.

[Ace of Pop]

Most ferangs here said Bad about drivers back home and forget they were useless anyway and only doing a few miles PA.down to Brighton in a nackered Astra.

[Ulic]

The only thing you really have to know about driving in Thailand is Thais consider the "rules

of the road" to be "recommendations."

[TPI]

The only rule that makes any sense in Asia is.....NEVER HIT ANYBODY! That is all!

Edited December 26, 2015 by seedy
font

[Stevemercer]

Never tooted my horn in Perth, because it is illegal. Now it is a bad habit and last night, I was advised by a local cop to stop, more for my safety ie so a gun or machete does get shown to me, I think. And to tell you the truth, every time I use my horn, it achieves nothing because the driver never responds. It is a bad habit for me to get out of because all I am doing is using it as a form of relieving my constant frustration.

I hope Thais don't take up this habit in general. Drivers in Indonesia honk at everything and it just adds to the noise and traffic madness. Only a few seem to do it in Thailand at the moment, but the numbers are increasing!

I live out in the country and generally find Thais give way and accommodate you (providing you forcefully assume the right of way). You can certainly make fast progress driving along the highways. You just have to be patient and not let anyone else get to you. I also ride a bicycle and Thai drivers are very courteous, compared to Australia where you will most often get abuse hurtled at you or rubbish thrown at you.

.I was back in Australia earlier this year and overtook a truck doing 100 km/hr on a 100 km/hr posted road. The truck driver had a dashboard cam and phoned the police to say there was a drunk driver speeding on the road. The police organised 5 cars and a roadblock some 20 km down the road at the next town to catch me. I wasn't drunk, and there was no proof I was speeding, so I was on my way again after 30 minutes or so.

Having said this, there is no doubt many drivers here are selfish and blind to anyone else, but themselves. And there is always the risk of an out of control drunk.

[howrub]

It is the "Asian" way. No different in Indonesia.

Not true in the least. Drivers in Indonesia convince me that the Thais know how to drive. There is SOME sense to the way traffic moves in Thailand, but none whatsoever in Indonesia.

[temlosluis]

I think it is biggest elephant go first if smaller aren't enough fast. Most of times small start first but big elephants honk way clear when get more speed and there smaller animals are better give way.

[JAYDOUBLEYOU]

Driving the "THAI Way" means too much speed + DELETED and ability.

THAT = THAINESS on the roads...which is why Thailand is officially the second worst country in the world for deaths per capita.

UNOFFICIALLY...that is, using the actual statistics, THAI drivers are by far THE WORST in the World.

Let's be careful out there...or buy an armour plated vehicle!

Edited December 26, 2015 by seedy
disrespectful

[Fairynuff]

I much prefer farangs driving the Thai way than farangs insisting to drive "their way".

Also don't get why farangs must always complain about the way one drives in Thailand.

I do enjoy driving here.

The nightmare is when I have to drive in a western country.

Also, had only one accident in 15 years of driving in Thailand... With a cow (she escaped without a scratch) (apparently).

Remind me never to be a passenger in your car!

[bazza40]

All you can do is drive defensively. That means if some one wants to pass you, move over to let them. If you encounter some idiot overtaking on a blind curve uphill, give them all the room you can consistent with not going off the road yourself.

The real problem with Thai drivers is the driving instructors. They don't teach stuff that would get you failed in a Western country, such as uphill handbrake starts, or using gears on an automatic for acceleration and deceleration. The licensing exam appears to be based on how much money changes hands.

I look on driving in Thailand as a good way of warding off Alzheimer's - you need to keep your wits about you.

[gemguy]

To answer your question:

Thai People driving a motor vehicle of any kind is more or less based on : Monkey See.....Monkey Do....... type of practiced mentality.

The basic rules are: Just drive....Just go for it....What everyone else does...Just do it also.

Cheers

[thrilled]

I'm not sure what driving like A Thai means.I'm an aggressive driver anyway.The only thing that seems to matter is.If the other

Vehicle is bigger than me then he has and will take the right of way.Vehicles smaller than me watch out get out of my way or get ran over.I mean it's not that bad but it seems like it.Years ago I believe it was worse.The biggest problem now is there are A lot

More vehicles.

[bazza40]

I'm not sure what driving like A Thai means.I'm an aggressive driver anyway.The only thing that seems to matter is.If the other

Vehicle is bigger than me then he has and will take the right of way.Vehicles smaller than me watch out get out of my way or get ran over.I mean it's not that bad but it seems like it.Years ago I believe it was worse.The biggest problem now is there are A lot

More vehicles.

So you are making a falang contribution to the general idiocy prevalent on Thai roads.

You're an aggressive driver? That smaller vehicle may have a gun in the glovebox.

[seedy]

Troll / Flaming posts removed

[Sutty]

I drive everyday I see a few nutters driving g like idiots not that many I counted today best I could see 4 Thai nutters 3 farrang nutters status quo I belive so as one person said on here thai do monkey follows