What do you do about driving in Thailand? Please try out this poll to let others know what you do.

Hey, me Tonto. Your poll has one thing wrong with it. No one drives in Thailand. You go down the street avoiding everyone else. Not really driving, but more like the dodge car ride at the fair.

I don't see how you can choose between "I have a car and drive it myself" and "I drive but have to be more careful than in my country of origin." Either way, you drive.

 

I chose "I have a car and drive it myself," but I certainly have to be much more careful about it too. In my home country, the USA, I've never driven anywhere where there are hordes of people driving motorbikes. As a matter of fact, where I've driven it was always unusual to see people driving motorbikes at all.

 

Thailand is a whole different ballgame when it comes to driving. The actual driving isn't difficult. It didn't take me long to get used to right-hand drive. The problem is the insane way people drive in Thailand. I've gotten used to that too, but I can honestly say it is rare for me to drive anywhere in Thailand without having at least one close call. If these people want to drive as if they're suicidal, fine with me, but I wish they would do their insane driving around somebody else's car.

 

When I took the driver's education course in high school, I still remember something my instructor constantly said: "Always expect the unexpected." Keeping that in mind is a very valuable thing to do when driving in Thailand.

When I was last in America, a friend asked "how do you like driving in Thailand?"

 

My response: "It is really a combination of a 'how to' session for passive/aggressive behavior skills AND aerobic exercise AND a carnival ride."

When I was a young boy I use to enjoy driving my motorcycle and my car. In my later years I started to despise driving and all the hassle associated with a car. In Thailand driving is more dangerous with all the motorcycles. If I was younger, I might be interested in driving in Thailand but now, I prefer to use taxis and on occasion hiring a car and driver. Looking back, I think I've saved a lot of money by not owning a car or motorcycle in Thailand.

The final option applies to me. As a visitor I hire a car as and when I need it.

 

Being a Brit and driving on the left (or right hand drive to put it another way) makes a lot of difference for a visitor. Gaybutton pointed out he'd got used to that aspect easily enough but I'd've thought a visitor, as distinct from an ex-pat, from a country where they drive on the right would find it harder. No sooner had he got used to one set of rules, he's back home, then on his next visit etc etc...

I'll be 65 in a couple of months. I drive a motorcycle almost daily when I'm in either America or Thailand. The rules are different, but in many ways I feel safer on a bike in Thailand. People in Thailand are very used to having motorbikes everywhere so they have a much higher level of awarness. There is a rythm of the road when riding in Thailand and one learns to settle into that rythm. In Thailand you often settle into a "pack" of bikes, that move down the road much like a flock of birds in flight.

I,also, drive a car in Thailand it's not that bad...one must just learn to be very patient. I find driving one the "other side of the road" to be a non issue.