Thailand's BIZARRE Road Etiquette EXPLAINED!

Great overview of Thailand road "rules". I find it not so bad if you just slow down and not worry about what everyone else is doing.... The extreme speeding on the rural roads and highways is still terrifying at times.....and, back the states I was know to be a pretty aggressive and fast driver. I still have to remind myself every time I drive to not use the horn!.....and boy, are there times I really, really want to lay on that horn.

Road signs and markings are mere sugestions in Thailand.
One thing to remember is the bike riding mentality seems to crossover into cars. Don't be surprised to see cars on the wrong side of the road instead of going a bit further and doing a U-Turn

If you can drive in Thailand, you can drive anywhere in the world except India.😅😅😅

Hey mate, sorry its off vlog topic but where was that bike speedway you were at a while back, was it the Pathum Thani speedway, im in Bang Pa In keen to check it out

Last time i was in BKK a couple months ago, i was watching the traffic at Asok intersection. The north/south road had a green light, so about a dozen mopeds started taking off. Out of nowhere coming from the west, going eastbound a bus doing 60+ sped through the red light and nearly took them all out. My butt never clenched so tight. It would have been mass murder. All of the mopeds stopped just in time to let the bus through only inches in front of their noses. TIT 555

Don't want to contradict you but I hear lots of horns when I have been in Thailand, I vaguely remember a person telling me once that they were more or less indicating what they were doing, they weren't going off at someone. Anyway cheers mate,
🙂

The more Im on the roads here (20 years) the more I appreciate the efficiency of the system. All the crap unnecessary rules are ignored. Sure a few people win the Darwin award but overall a lot easier considering the amount of people on the roads. As an aussie its all done, in general, with so much more chill than in Australia which is appreciated.

Good vid 🚗 🚲 🚦

It was a major shock to me since I’m from the states. So wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the road. Plus driving a manual with my left hand. Luckily up in Ubon they made some roundabouts but most people are friendly enough it works out!

Good video.

Just be mindful when driving there

I have lived here for many years. During my working life, I was co-owner of a transportation
safety consultant specializing in accident analysis in the USA. It took me a while to realize that there are very few stop sings or yield signs in Thailand. The reasons are obvious. First, expense and maintenance and second, the Thais would ignore them anyway.

dude... like your truck!

hello sir, "I'm planning to move to Southeast Asia soon, and as part of my research, I'm curious about the reliability of the power grid. Could you tell me how often, if at all, power outages occur in Thailand?"

Still yet to see the traffic code or rules published anywhere

There’s a reason why Thailand has the highest death count on the roads in the entire world

Only 1 rule here. The biggest car goes first.

As for the rest .. just gas and hope for the best 😂

Great video mate. It's the wild west on the roads here. But as you said, once you get used to the way it works here it's not too bad.
I was gonna make a similar video, well ill just wait a month or so now, 555. I'd love to hear more about your MX days, I used to ride\race enduro events when I was younger, loved it!

Ive been in bangkok for a week now, the bikes are nuts here. I did a bike grab and never again. The speed, the weaving in traffic, the no helmet and security risk is just too crazy

Absolutely excellent video and all spot on. Living just off Lad Phrao Rd I have to do the U-turn thing all the time and its a joy once you get used to the etiquette which is, as you say, barge out once there is a reasonable gap. And people dont mind as everyone knows its the only way it can work! In my home town London, people would go crazy if you tried this!
Oh and one other tip, if you see a number 8 bus, be very afraid! They sometimes race each other and woe betide anyone that gets in the way!

G'day....I've been coming to Thailand since I was 20 (now 61) and lived here full time for 18 and a half years.
I love driving here. It's just so much more laid back than back in Oz.....you put your indicator on to change lanes and more often than not you will be let in as opposed to having them accelerate to close the gap back in Oz.
I will use the horn but just a light double tap to maybe let someone know it's a green light, not a long angry horn blow.
Whilst road rage isn't the norm here it does happen and quite often when it happens, guns come out. Never seen it myself but it is in the news regularly. But if you drive courteously as depicted in this video, then you also will likely never encounter it.
Cheers from Chiang Mai :)

Sick looking rig

But there is a reason for, that Thailand has one of the worst Traffic Records in the World. Year by Year.

The round about had a signal!

This was great man. such a good topic that zero people cover it seems.

The road etiquette used to be better than this, not many dare to run the red lights, but since the Covid, cops stop doing their job. The social distancing back in 2020 was the reason the cops stop working. Now it's becoming a rampage, running the red lights, driving on the curbs and going the wrong way, are becoming a norm, out of control. If the cops decided to come back and do its job, i think, it's too late, just out of control situation now. My suggestion for the government and the police is to use CCTV to capture the plates for violators, and charge them with heavy fee when they go to renew their yearly road tax. Failure to pay must result in motorcycle confiscation until the payment is fully paid.

Flippin cars pull waaay out in front you, buses and trucks will cut you off and come within inches of running you down, nowone gives a shit, seems like they aim for foreigners

I ride in Pattaya every day, like a Kamikazi life or death video game.

The rule of thumb in Thailand, especially in Bangkok is…If you don’t like the way Thai people drive, stay off the sidewalks!

Been driving my Vespa here over 6 months, even I learned a few things, your right nobody beeps their horn, it’s lovely

cheers

Great video !
Every new resident should watch this.
Don’t drive a motorcycle is also a good idea.

Excellent advice

great info. I`ll be in Phuket from Sunday and plan to ride a bike for a bit.. eyes need to be everywhere...

I only ride in Hua Hin or Chiang Mai. Some things I've noticed - bikes taking off at traffic lights before the colour changes from red to green. Cars and Motorbikes driving through a pedestrian crossing once someone has crossed, even if the light is still red. Parking cars in car parks across other cars but leaving the handbrake off so that it can be pushed out of the way. Turning left on a red light - bah got fined for that despite many other riders before me doing the exact same thing. In the road rules (I have a Thai License) its illegal beep your horn unless there is danger.

Good video have driven my gf car a few times and she hates me driving in Thailand. Philippines is worse like you say they beep their horn every 10 seconds for everything and it is super annoying and makes it so loud in the city.

Epic!

I knew you were perfect for this…

Flashing your lights in nz is to let others know there is a cop you have just past so watch out

I was on the expressway recently and got pulled over because my tax was out of date. I had no cash on me. They asked if I wanted to go to the station, or pay the fine there. He charged me 1000bt, which was transferred to his wife's bank account😂 You should always keep 500 bt on you for these situations. That's the going rate.

Hey keis. Have been watching you for years 🤙 I’m currently training at Bangkok fight lab. And filming a music video in the city! Would love to meetup while I’m living in Bangkok. Have a great day

Horns? Try Egypt.

I remember visiting from sydney for the first time in 2009. Our thai inlaws picked us up and the road trip back to BangNa was a bonkers experience.

Keisy this was a fantastic educational vlog i wish i saw it last month when i was in thailand.
I was offered so many times to drive on a few road trips but i just turn them down as i wasnt educated on how they follow their rules.
Just after this i would feel more confident. Ps your ute is looking great interior looks amazing and your 12 inch sub lol.thanks for a really educational vlog...thoes Fruiting body mushrooms are like a life saver enjoying flying high.😂

Dashcam warriors in Australia would have a meltdown attempting this stuff in Bangkok. Similar etiquette in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Very good and well explained video with examples thrown in.

Also, the lights change from amber to red quickly. Be careful if you run an amber light.

Good Vid. I drove car last year from Pattaya to Bangkok, Sisaket, Cambodia boarder and back. aways had to be ready for anything, Potholes, speed,trucks,random lane changing hated Bangkok traffic stressful people coming inside ,outside bikes Lol a lot don't indicator or brake late.I will drive again and 2nd time was much easier..lol n experience

It is nuts especially in Bangkok I tend to use the MRT or BTS system and only ride motorcycle in small towns or islands as it is more convenient.
Maybe if I retire then that would be a different matter but on holidays nah there is enough danger sports around to keep me happy 😂.

Nice! Now do one for the pedestrians please, a walker's guide to Bangkok :)

You could’ve also mentioned how pedestrian crossings mean absolutely nothing there! Which I discovered on my first trip back in 2006 , for the life of me I couldn’t understand why cars weren’t stopping as I was walking across , and I was really freaking out now I see it just as normal