Precautions

Below are some things that you should be prepared for when driving in Thailand.

Traveling on the streets and highways

• Flashing of headlights by other vehicles is a warning signal meaning "get out of my way" - it does not indicate that they are allowing you the right of way as it does in some western countries. Likewise, driving with one’s hazard lights flashing is also a signal that the driver is coming through.
• Take care on one-way streets - local drivers often consider the law does not apply to them if driving the wrong way on a one-way street saves them time.
• Speed Bumps - many small streets, especially in Pattaya, have large speed bumps - many appear to have been put there by locals and can be quite high, so be sure to slow down.
• Double Parking - streets are often narrow with only two lanes cars to travel in both directions (expect at least one lane to be blocked by double parked vehicles  or trucks stopped while making a delivery.
• When opening car doors, always check for motorbikes - they can appear out of nowhere and frequently will squeeze between a vehicle and the curb.
• When turning, be alert for motorcycles within your turn radius - also be alert when making a right turn and vehicles stop behind you - it is not that uncommon for motorcycles to be passing the line of stopped vehicles and crashing into you as you make the turn.
  
• Pedestrian Right of Way – NOT! - Thai drivers do not consider pedestrians to have any right of way, even at marked cross walks. Pedestrians should also exercise care when crossing the road by looking in both directions before stepping off the curb (it is not unusual to have a motorcycle traveling the wrong direction in an opposing traffic lane).
• Scooters and motorbikes commonly drive on the sidewalks during rush hour and other periods of heavy traffic. An Expat author who has spoken to the Club on more than one occasion lives in Bangkok. Since moving to Thailand, he said he has been hit by a motorcycle on two occasions - both times, he was on the side walk.
• Drivers of larger vehicles often expect the smaller vehicle to give way. Be especially careful on two lane highways as you may meet an opposing bus or truck in your lane while passing slower moving vehicles. Also, if more than one lane, be alert when overtaking trucks or busses in the left hand lane as they may suddenly pull into your lane without warning because of slower moving traffic in their lane or they plan to make a right turn (often they will change lanes some distance from where they plan to turn).
• Be alert for vehicles traveling in the opposite direction on the shoulder of road. A common occurrence in small towns or on highways with medians.

Right Turn or U-Turn Crossovers on roads with a median

• Traffic waiting to make a right or U-turn often backs up into the main traffic lane so be alert - it does take time to stop when you are traveling at 90 or more kph. Also, it is not uncommon for a bus or truck driver that does not wish to queue up behind other turning traffic to pass the traffic in the right turn lane and then block the main traffic lane while waiting to make their turn.
• Be alert for traffic stopped in the cross over of the median waiting to cross or turn as they may dart out in front of you - usually motorcycles and sometimes buses or trucks (remember, they are the larger vehicle and they will expect you to give way - of course you could flash your headlights at them and have your epitaph read “he had the right of way.”)

Controlled Intersections (approach with care)

• Approaching an intersection when you have a green light, be careful as a motorcycle on the cross street may jump the light (expect several more to be right behind).
• If your light is about to change to red, (yellow light OR green light is flashing) be alert for the speed of traffic behind you as they may be speeding up to beat the light as you prepare to stop.

Driving at night

• Alcohol consumption is a major problem in Thailand. Late night and early morning hours are especially dangerous because of the number of inebriated drivers that may be on the road after an evening of drinking with friends.
• Most Thai drivers do not have warning cones or triangles in the event of a breakdown. Thais often signal a breakdown ahead by placing branches on the road - these are especially hard to see if driving at night.
• If there is a large pothole in the road, Thais will often put a stick upright in the hole as a warning - again, very difficult to see (the local authorities will get around to fixing the pot hole , but generally will not put up any warning cones or signs before the it is fixed).
• Driving at night requires great care, especially on the highways. Locals may be driving with broken lights or just haven’t turned them on - farm trucks are extremely slow and you can be on them before you know it. Also, trucks have stopped or broke down in a traffic lane without any lights on or having placed warning device on the road.