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Answered2 years ago

What do 'drive either side' and 'end of restriction' mean in Thai driving rules?

Matthew **********
asked Apr 24, 2025
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 I’m getting my Thai drivers license and actually want to know all the rules, even if they aren’t followed universally. I have a few pages of these and questions, but I will start here with this page first.

What is “drive either side“ and “end of restriction”?

This being Facebook, I know some of you good people will start arguing with each other. I hold you to high standards, so be funny if you must fight and if you are on the receiving end please don’t get too upset.
Answer summary
The terms "drive either side" and "end of restriction" refer to specific traffic signs in Thailand. The former indicates that vehicles can drive on either side of a certain point (usually at the start of a dual carriageway), while the latter signifies that any previous limitations (like speed limits) are now lifted. These signs are not unique to Thailand, as similar concepts are recognized worldwide. The discussion highlights the confusion surrounding these signs, the driving test process for obtaining a Thai license, and some quirks of driving in Thailand, such as misinterpretations of signage and local driving culture.
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Rob *************
Rob *************
Rule no 1.

Don't give way to pedestrians
Bill **********
Bill **********
Thinking a big one was left off there; "what does a tree branch laying in the road ahead indicate?"
Rod *********
Rod *********
All those signs are only for decoration
Peter ********
Peter ********
Americans, driving 😮
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Peter *******
They are good drivers there. All those YouTube videos give the impression we are all high on meth and being chased by the police.
Michael ********
Michael ********
I just changed my German license to a Thai one no test just medical form and a few questions on a online App.
Mike *********
Mike *********
I just took my test a few months ago in Chachoengsao. The greatest challenge when taking the English version is that sometimes the translations of the question makes no sense so it is impossible to select the correct answer. I don't know if the computerized test is standard throughout Thailand or if each province has its own questions.

There are sample questions on the internet that are useful esp irt the odd translations. Also, on my test British terms for car parts were used which can vary from American terminology. But overall if you study the material and review the sample questions you should do fine. I ended up with a 46 first time.

As to those two signs you asked about, end restriction means whatever restriction sign was posted earlier(like temp speed 20 in a normally 40 zone) isnow lifted. The either side means just that. You can drive on either side of the sign in the same direction.
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Mike ********
I have an app with all the questions. I have saved the ones with the confusing English and committed the counterintuitive answers to memory. It may seem strange, but I am enjoying the challenge. Years ago, Thai bureaucracy would frustrate me. At some point, I just accepted it and now find the whole process amusing. 
Mike ******
Mike ******
95% of drivers on Thai roads don't know or ignore these signs with police approval. Less than 50 a day pay with their life.
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Mike *****
I’m aiming for the 5%.
Mike ******
Mike ******
Hopefully you won't hit them.
Robert *********
Robert *********
I found out the other day that some road signs are easily missed. I was in Surat Thani driving through town on a 2 way street which suddenly had cars having parked on both sides of the road facing towards me, then a car started flashing its lights at me, quickly realised it turned into a one way street and did a quick u-turn and then looked back and saw the smallest ‘no entry’ sign in amongst other signs.
Richard *****
Richard *****
This may be useful!

******************************************************
Richard *****
Richard *****
…and this!

******************************************************************
Us *****
Us *****
You're actually taking the test? Why aren't you using an agency.
Michael *******
Michael *******
@Us ****
maybe because it’s corrupt….not everyone wants to feed the gravy train…..
Jack ****************
Jack ****************
@Us ****
how about because agency is synonymous with "scammer" and going around the system? Literally said "want to understand the rules"?
Chuck **********
Chuck **********
If you already have a license from another country or a international drivers license really helps a lot then you have limited tests for your license. I just did mine, only eye test near and far, left and right. Very easy, in UdonThani.
Did *****
Did *****
Good luck with the stupid test. Some questions are retarded and others are making no sense (right answer considered wrong 🤣).

By the way, did you know that only having one arm doesn't disqualify you from driving , and that Monks don't have to wear a Helmet 🫣? (Those infos might save you 2 points)
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Did ****
Don’t sugar coat it! How do you really feel about the test? Don’t hold back!

I have read all the questions and they are pushing the limits of my sanity.
Did *****
Did *****
@Matthew *********
If you fail, they let you retry directly (at least where I went). But I failed anyway with
*****
on the second try. The difficulty is not really about the rules, it's mostly about the horrendous translation to English. I would re "study" by remembering the answers they want and leaving out the understanding 🤣

The good thing is, if you already have a driver's license from your home country and an IDP, you can just apply for the thai car license pretty easily. I was just lacking the class A motorbike licence from my home country reason why I had to pass the quizz (but hey, I still got my Thai driving licence 🤣). Will retry the quizz soon to ride a motorbike.
Graham ******
Graham ******
Why are you doing a Thai driving test, don't you have a valid foreign licence you can use to get one?
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Graham *****
Written test. My American drivers license allows me to skip the driving part of the test.
Did *****
Did *****
@Matthew *********
you don't even have to do the written test. With an IDP or English language driver's license : only do the reaction tests. Really easy.

1. Get medical certificate for 100-200b

2. Get Certificate of Residence from immigration (valid 30days)

3. Go to your local DLT with you American driver's licence.

4. Pass reaction test.

5. Take a picture and pay 205b

6. Walk out with your Thai licence

************************************
Did *****
Did *****
@Matthew *********
you're right, safety first ❤️ You don't wanna ride like many here on the road 😁🫣 Not many things are different at the end (Well accept riding on the left, takes some time to get used to). For the specific road signs and rules you can find good reads / websites online explaining it into English. DLT has the "online course" you have to follow, check it out. Some infos in those videos.
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Did ****
I really want to know the details and the rules. Even if few people follow them, I want to know what’s what and right from wrong on the road. I’d rather know the rules and break them than be ignorant of them.
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Matthew *********
In Sa Kaeo province all I had to do was the 3 reaction tests, I did, however, have an international Driving Permit
Martin ********
Martin ********
@Graham *****
same here
Did *****
Did *****
@Graham *****
maybe for motorbike🤷🏼‍♂️
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
I believe the “End of restriction” sign was an import from the UK.

When entering a speed restricted zone like a town or city then there was set signs showing the speed limit - I.e. 30 mile per hour. When leaving that zone they used this sign that basically said you could now drive up to the “national speed limit”. The idea behind that was that if the government decided for whatever reason to change the “national speed limit” they wouldn’t have to change millions of signs around the country to the new limit.
Jesper *******
Jesper *******
Chill u need 45 correct answers out of 50 it's not that difficult.....and u can do the test everyday until u pass or after 90days
Tore *********
Tore *********
Not trying to be snarky, but where did you drive before where both of those weren’t known?

At least in every European country I’ve driven they exist. Especially «end of restriction».

Drive on either side less common, but still fairly common.

But yes, what Tai said.
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Tore ********
America! It’s a big isolated island. Maybe you’ve heard of us? We make hip hop, porn and fast food.
Tore *********
Tore *********
@Matthew *********
Island you say 😳. And here i thought it was a continent….
Martin ********
Martin ********
@Tore ********
... why??? The americans does😇
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Tore ********
Absolutely what I meant. In its way, the US is a rather isolated place. I was a teacher there for 18 years and have a hard time finding any optimism. I wish them the best… Wait! Wasn’t I talking about traffic signs?!
Tore *********
Tore *********
@Martin *******
haha, now thats a little mean 😅
Martin ********
Martin ********
@Tore ********
... hey now you're mixing "cultural" and "geographic"🤣
Tai **********
Tai **********
@Tore ********
yeah and plus he’s like 60+ if you don’t know these signs by now not sure what to say. Even if you don’t drive you can figure it out with common sense.
Alan ***********
Alan ***********
@Tai *********
his actual questions are not something we have in the USA. I agree not too hard to figure out, but it’s valid if he never drove or more importantly never took a test in another country.
Peter *******
Peter *******
Roundabouts don't usually last long, shame, way too many traffic lights insted
Rene ******
Rene ******
Maybe this is also usefull for you
**************************************************************************************************
*******
/extract_handouts_vdo_driving_license_thailand.pdf
Tai **********
Tai **********
It’s a one way road that turns into 2 roads going different ways.

end of restriction is as it states, an end of a restriction 😅 the restriction might have been speed limit.

And these are not just Thai rules, pretty standard all over the world.
Matthew **********
Matthew **********
OP
@Tai *********
I’m American, so I’m not from the “world”…
Tai **********
Tai **********
@Matthew *********
you mean you’re from the U.S., yeah definitely special people over there. Maybe tip 20% to the person who hands you the test, you never know maybe they fill your coffee cup every time you take a sip while you contemplate the next answer to the questions.

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