Thai Traffic & Driving
Driving on the left, unwritten rules, and what to do after a bump
Thailand drives on the left. Beyond that, the written rules and the observed rules are two different documents, and the gap between them is what catches people out.
What is actually different
Hire a car through us- Traffic flows around obstacles rather than stopping for them. If you slow down suddenly for something a local driver would have gone around, you become the obstacle.
- Motorbikes occupy every gap, including the one to your left as you turn. Mirror, then look again, before any turn or lane change.
- Undertaking is normal. Being overtaken on both sides simultaneously is not aimed at you.
- Right of way goes to the bigger vehicle in practice, whatever the rule says. Buses and pickups will pull out.
- U-turns are a way of life. Many left turns are actually "go past, U-turn, come back" — and the U-turn bays can involve crossing fast traffic.
- Indicators mean various things, including "I am aware of you" and nothing at all.
The mindset that works: drive smoothly and predictably, leave more space than you would at home, and assume nobody has seen you. Aggression is rare here and does not help; flowing with the traffic does.
Night, rain and animals
Rural roads around Hua Hin are poorly lit, and unlit motorbikes, pedestrians and dogs are all real hazards after dark. Tropical rain reduces visibility to almost nothing within seconds and the first ten minutes of a downpour are the most slippery — oil lifts off the road surface. Slow down or pull over and wait; it usually passes quickly.
If you have an accident
- Stop, and do not move the vehicles unless someone is in danger. The positions matter for the insurance assessment.
- Photograph everything — both vehicles, the positions, the road, the other driver's licence and plate.
- Call your insurer. Thai insurers send an assessor to the scene, usually quickly, and they settle it between them. This is normal and it works.
- Do not admit fault or agree a cash figure on the spot. Wait for the assessor.
- If anyone is hurt, call 1669 for an ambulance.
- Tell us if it is one of our vehicles or you are staying with us — we can help with the language and the process.
Driving here is genuinely fine once you adjust. Most visitors find the first two days unnerving and the rest unremarkable.