| Thailand has a good network of well-maintained | | | | hotel/plazas or shopping centres. Farther out of |
| roads and highways between all main centres. | | | | town centres parking is usually free, if you can |
| Road signage follows international convention and | | | | find a space. Don't block government building |
| is in both Thai and English. Drunk drivers and an | | | | entrances or you're likely to be towed. |
| abudance of haphazardly driven motorcycles | | | | Costs, distances and times |
| make night-time driving a real problem, however. | | | | Service stations are plentiful and most of the |
| Road rules | | | | larger ones accept major international credit cards. |
| Traffic drives on the left hand side and drivers | | | | In more remote locations, hand pumps are |
| must be at least 18 and hold a full, valid Thailand | | | | common and cash will be required. Unleaded 91, |
| driving licence or an international driving permit. If | | | | 95 and high-octane 98 fuels are available as well |
| you only have a national driving licence from your | | | | as diesel, and LPG at some locations. Unleaded 95 |
| own country you will be permitted to use for up | | | | is about 18 baht per litre; diesel, 15 baht. |
| to two months. To hire a car, renters have to be | | | | Typical driving distances and times: |
| at least 25 years old. Wearing of seat belts is | | | | Bangkok to Chiang Mai: 686kms/426mls 9 hours |
| compulsory and drunk-driving laws apply; all | | | | Bangkok to Hat Yai: 993kms/617mls 12 hours |
| insurance is invalid if drivers exceed the legal | | | | Hat Yai to Phuket: 474kms/294mls 7 hours. |
| alcohol limit. | | | | Safety |
| Police regularly occassionally set up speed traps | | | | Renters requiring assistance will find an |
| and offenders breaking the limits will be subject to | | | | emergency phone number printed on their rental |
| on-the-spot fines, which are routinely less than the | | | | agreement and on the windscreen sticker. Try to |
| official rate, but no 'ticket' is given. The maximum | | | | refrain from driving at night as unsuspecting |
| blood/alcohol limit is 0.5mg/ml. Unfortunately the | | | | potholes, local drivers without tail lights and |
| Thai police are very lax in controlling drunk drivers | | | | wandering livestock can greatly increase the |
| and this creates a hazard late at night. | | | | possibility of having an accident. |
| Speed limits: | | | | Since Thai motorists are notoriously ill-disciplined |
| Urban areas: 45 - 60kph/28 - 37mph | | | | with giving way or observing traffic rules, |
| Highways: 90 - 110kph/56 - 68mph. | | | | motorists are advised to drive at an 'easy pace' |
| Motorways and the road network | | | | (50kms or less) in urban areas. In the event of an |
| There are about 64,600kms/40,141mls of paved | | | | accident, Thais perfer to settle the legal outcome |
| roads in Thailand as well as a large network of | | | | on the spot and often expect the wealthier |
| unpaved roads (especially in the North). Major | | | | motorist to absorb the cost, this includes |
| highways radiate outwards from Bangkok to all | | | | foreigners. |
| the major cities, with most of the north-south | | | | Stay away from downtown Bangkok; traffic is |
| route consisting of dual carriageway. | | | | horrendous and roads are confusing, not to |
| Interconnecting roads to smaller towns and cities | | | | mention road users who have a general disregard |
| are usually wide, and single-laned with two-lane | | | | for other vehicles. Don't drive too close to the |
| sections at interchanges. | | | | edge of the road on any highway as motorcycles |
| Parking in cities is usually on the street for a small | | | | quite often drive up the wrong way, and keep |
| charge or, for the most part, covered parking in | | | | out of the path of buses and trucks. |