Many consider Thailand a paradise, especially for food lovers along with its wonderful beaches, scenery, and nightlife. A lot of travelers to Thailand have a fantasy of traveling around Thailand on a moped or scooter but is it only a fantasy? So, is it safe to drive in Thailand?
No, it is not safe to drive in Thailand whether it is a car, scooter, or moped. There are a number of reasons with the first one being that Thailand was one of the worse road safety records in the world. The next is that Thai drivers who are used to driving on Thai roads generally don’t follow the general rules of the road. And if there is an accident between a Thai and a non-Thai, the non-Thai in nearly all cases will get the blame.
In this post, we will go through whether it is safe to drive in Thailand. Let’s get started!
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- Can You Smoke In Bars In Thailand?
Can Tourists Drive In Thailand?
Yes, tourists can drive in Thailand. To drive in Thailand whether it is a car or moped, you are required by law to hold an international driving license or a valid driver’s license in English from your country. Along with your passport.
Are Cars In Thailand Right-Hand Drive?
No, cars in Thailand drive on the left-hand side of the road, the same as in the UK or Malaysia.
Do I Need Insurance To Drive In Thailand?
It is advised to have insurance if driving in Thailand. If you are driving a car drivers must have third-party insurance at a minimum. When renting a moped whether you are qualified to dive one or not, insurance is not included.
You will need to check your travel insurance to see if you are covered to drive a moped in Thailand.
If you are involved in an accident, you may end up having to pay a bribe and pay all the costs involved, both yours and 3rd parties.
Is It Safe To Drive In Thailand?
Generally, it is not safe to drive in Thailand whether it is a car or a moped. The reasons are as follows.
- Thailand has one of the worst road safety records in the world.
- Rules of the road are a bit more of a guideline than followed.
- Non-Thais in nearly all cases will get the blame for accidents.
Thailand Was One Of The Worse Road Safety Records In The World
Simply the record of having one of the worse road safety records in the world speaks for itself. This is due to multiple reasons from the quality of the road transport system to the way the rules of the road are applied.
Rules Of The Road Are A Bit More Of A Guideline Than Followed
The Thais in general don’t follow the rules of the road it is more of a nice guideline. So don’t expect drivers to stop at traffic lights or pedestrian crossings. Along with that many Thai drivers are unaware that you are not aware of the rules of the road that are applied differently.
Non-Thais In Nearly All Cases Will Get The Blame For Accidents
Unfortunately, if there is an accident between a Thai and a non-Thai, the non-Thai in nearly all cases will be blamed. It is just the way it is.
What To Do If You Have A Car Accident In Thailand?
Firstly regardless of how bad the accident is, the tourist will get the blame. If your moped gets damaged you will have to pay for the repairs of the scooter.
Now if you damage anything other than your scooter-like property. You will have to negotiate with the owners. If the police get involved, more than likely you will get the blame.
First, you need to get all personal information from the other driver involves their name, addresses, and national ID numbers. Then take photos of the damage, the scene, and anything else that might be important.
Remember to stay calm and don’t pay any money upfront. A lot of drivers in Thailand will demand cash up front to pay for their damage. And if you have insurance then call your insurance company.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, it is not safe to drive in Thailand whether it is a car, scooter, or moped. There are several reasons with the first one being that Thailand has one of the worst road safety records in the world. The next is that Thai drivers who are used to driving on Thai roads generally don’t follow the general rules of the road. And if there is an accident between a Thai and a non-Thai, the non-Thai in nearly all cases will get the blame.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on if is it safe to drive in Thailand has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
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