Driving tips in Thailand

Thailand has a good network of well-maintained roads and highways between all main centres. Road signage follows international convention and is in both Thai and English. Drunk drivers and an abudance of haphazardly driven motorcycles make night-time driving a real problem, however.

Road rules

Traffic drives on the left hand side and drivers must be at least 18 and hold a full, valid Thailand driving licence or an international driving permit. If you only have a national driving licence from your own country you will be permitted to use for up to two months. To hire a car, renters have to be at least 25 years old. Wearing of seat belts is compulsory and drunk-driving laws apply; all insurance is invalid if drivers exceed the legal alcohol limit.

Police regularly occassionally set up speed traps and offenders breaking the limits will be subject to on-the-spot fines, which are routinely less than the official rate, but no ‘ticket’ is given. The maximum blood/alcohol limit is 0.5mg/ml. Unfortunately the Thai police are very lax in controlling drunk drivers and this creates a hazard late at night.

Speed limits:
Urban areas: 45 – 60kph/28 – 37mph
Highways: 90 – 110kph/56 – 68mph.
Motorways and the road network

There are about 64,600kms/40,141mls of paved roads in Thailand as well as a large network of unpaved roads (especially in the North). Major highways radiate outwards from Bangkok to all the major cities, with most of the north-south route consisting of dual carriageway. Interconnecting roads to smaller towns and cities are usually wide, and single-laned with two-lane sections at interchanges.

Parking in cities is usually on the street for a small charge or, for the most part, covered parking in hotel/plazas or shopping centres. Farther out of town centres parking is usually free, if you can find a space. Don’t block government building entrances or you’re likely to be towed.

Costs, distances and times

Service stations are plentiful and most of the larger ones accept major international credit cards. In more remote locations, hand pumps are common and cash will be required. Unleaded 91, 95 and high-octane 98 fuels are available as well as diesel, and LPG at some locations. Unleaded 95 is about 18 baht per litre; diesel, 15 baht.

Typical driving distances and times:

Bangkok to Chiang Mai: 686kms/426mls 9 hours
Bangkok to Hat Yai: 993kms/617mls 12 hours
Hat Yai to Phuket: 474kms/294mls 7 hours.

Safety

Renters requiring assistance will find an emergency phone number printed on their rental agreement and on the windscreen sticker. Try to refrain from driving at night as unsuspecting potholes, local drivers without tail lights and wandering livestock can greatly increase the possibility of having an accident.

Since Thai motorists are notoriously ill-disciplined with giving way or observing traffic rules, motorists are advised to drive at an ‘easy pace’ (50kms or less) in urban areas. In the event of an accident, Thais perfer to settle the legal outcome on the spot and often expect the wealthier motorist to absorb the cost, this includes foreigners.

Stay away from downtown Bangkok; traffic is horrendous and roads are confusing, not to mention road users who have a general disregard for other vehicles. Don’t drive too close to the edge of the road on any highway as motorcycles quite often drive up the wrong way, and keep out of the path of buses and trucks. The ‘songteaw’ minibus trucks have a habit of suddenly pulling ove

Driving tips in Canada

Canadian highways are superb, with excellent, well-maintained, surfaces offering uncongested travel to most parts of the country; roads here certainly rival those of the USA. It’s not unusual to travel for hours and not pass another vehicle in some of the more remote areas.

Road rules

Canada honours all valid foreign driving licences; therefore an international driving permit is not necessary. The minimum driving age is 16 but you need to be 25 to hire a car with most companies. Seatbelts for the driver and front-seat passengers must be worn, with infants strapped into a safety seat. Some provinces require that drivers switch on their headlights during the day.

The maximum limit for level of alcohol in the blood while driving is 0.8mg/ml and there are strict penalties for violators.

Speed limits vary from province to province, as a general guideline:

Urban areas: 50kph/31mph
Outside schools: 30kph/18mph
Rural roads/highways: 90 – 110kph/56 – 68mph.

Motorways and the road network

Highways mainly consist of two- to three-lane roads, narrowing to a wide, single lane in the countryside. The Trans-Canada Highway covers 8,000kms/5,000mls making it the longest highway in the world; while the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16), which runs through Canada’s vast prairies, over the Rockies, and to the Pacific coast, is almost as long.

As in all major cities around the world, parking can be difficult in Canadian cities. Look for signs marked with a green ‘P’, indicating municipal parking, and avoid street parking as the car may be wheel-clamped or towed away if left in a restricted zone.
Costs, distances and times

Most of Canada’s service stations are open 24 hours for fuel, with automobile maintenance and service available during business hours. Canadian cars use unleaded petrol, sold by the litre, with considerably cheaper prices than those encountered in Europe, but slightly more expensive than prices in the USA.

Typical driving distances:

Vancouver to Toronto: 4492kms/2790mls
Vancouver to Yellowknife: 2411kms/1498mls
Toronto to Montreal: 539kms/335mls.

Safety

Don’t drive beyond your limits, as distances in Canada are deceptive. Stop every couple of hours to relax, and don’t try to drive beyond 500 or 600kms in a day. The CAA provides reciprocal assistance to members of international auto clubs.