TRANSPORT
HITCHING
is usually available at small
roadside or village stands. All
fuel in Thailand is unleaded,
and diesel is used by trucks
and some passenger cars.
In 2007, Thailand introduced
several alternative fuels,
including gasohol (a blend of
petrol and ethanol that comes
in diff erent octane levels,
either 91% or 95%) and com-
pressed natural gas, used by
taxis with bifuel capabilities.
For news and updates about
fuel options, and other car
talk, see the website of BKK
Auto (www.bkkautos.com).Hire & Purchase
Cars, jeeps and vans can be
rented in most major cities
and airports from local com-
panies as well as international
chains. Local companies tend
to have cheaper rates than the
international chains, but their
fl eets of cars tend to be older
and not as well maintained.
Check the tyre treads and
general upkeep of the vehicle
before committing.
Motorcycles can be rented
in major towns and many
smaller tourist centres from
guest houses and small
mum-and-dad businesses.
Renting a motorcycle in
Thailand is relatively easy
and a great way to independ-
ently tour the countryside.
For daily rentals, most busi-
nesses will ask that you leave
your passport as a deposit.
Before renting a motorcycle,
check the vehicle’s condition
and ask for a helmet (which
is required by law).
Many tourists are injured
riding motorcycles in Thai-
land because they don’t
know how to handle the ve-
hicle and are unfamiliar with
road rules and conditions.
Drive slowly, especially when
roads are slick, to avoid dam-
age to yourself and to the
vehicle, and be sure to have
adequate health insurance. If
you’ve never driven a motor-
cycle before, stick to the
smaller 100cc step-through
bikes with automatic clutch-
es. Remember to distribute
weight as evenly as possibleacross the frame of the bike
to improve handling.Insurance
Thailand requires a minimum
of liability insurance for all
regis tered vehicles on the
road. The better hire compa-
nies include comprehensive
coverage for their vehicles.
Always verify that a vehicle
is insured for liability before
signing a rental contract; you
should also ask to see the
dated insurance documents.
If you have an accident while
driving an uninsured vehicle,
you’re in for some major
hassles.Road Rules &
Hazards
Thais drive on the left-hand
side of the road (most of the
time!). Other than that, just
about anything goes, in spite
of road signs and speed limits.
The main rule to be aware
of is that right of way goes
to the bigger vehicle; this is
not what it says in the Thai
traffi c law, but it’s the reality.
Maximum speed limits are
50km/h on urban roads and
80km/h to 100km/h on most
highways – but on any given
stretch of highway you’ll see
various vehicles travelling
as slowly as 30km/h and as
fast as 150km/h. Speed traps
are common along Hwy 4 in
the south and Hwy 2 in the
northeast.
Indicators are often used
to warn passing drivers about
oncoming traffi c. A fl ashing
left indicator means it’s OK to
pass, while a right indicator
means that someone’s ap-
proaching from the other di-
rection. Horns are used to tell
other vehicles that the driver
plans to pass. When drivers
fl ash their lights, they’re tell-
ing you not to pass.
In Bangkok traffi c is
chaotic, roads are poorly
signposted and motorcycles
and random contra fl ows
mean you can suddenly fi nd
yourself facing a wall of cars
coming the other way.
Outside of the capital, the
principal hazard when driv-ing in Thailand, besides the
general disregard for traffi c
laws, is having to contend
with so many diff erent types
of vehicles on the same
road – trucks, bicycles, túk-
túk (‘pronounced đúk dúk;
motorised transport) and
motorcycles. This danger is
often compounded by the
lack of working lights. In vil-
lage areas the vehicular traf-
fi c is lighter but you have to
contend with stray chickens,
dogs and water buff aloes.Hitching
Hitching is never entirely safe
in any country and we don’t
recommend it. Travellers
who decide to hitch should
understand that they are
taking a small but potentially
serious risk. Hitching is rarely
seen these days in Thailand,
so most passing motorists
might not realise the inten-
tions of the foreigner stand-
ing on the side of the road
with a thumb out. Thais don’t
‘thumb it’; instead when they
want a ride they wave their
hand with the palm facing
the ground. This is the same
gesture used to fl ag a taxi or
bus, which is why some driv-
ers might stop and point to a
bus stop if one is nearby.
In some of the national
parks where there isn’t public
transport Thais are often
willing to pick up a passenger
standing by the side of the
road.Local Transport
City Bus &
Sŏrng•tăa•ou
Bangkok has the largest city-
bus system in the country,
while Udon Thani and a few
other provincial capitals have
some city bus services. The
etiquette for riding public
buses is to wait at a bus
stop and hail the vehicle by
waving your hand palm-side
downward. You typically pay
the fare once you’ve taken a
seat or, in some cases, when
you disembark.