There are two main ways to drive on the road – the left side or right side. In Thailand, people drive on the left side of the road, but it is often baffling to some individuals why the country chose this less common side of the road for driving. Of course, there is a reason why Thai people drive on the left side of the road.
According to comments on Quora, the first and most notable reason for driving on the left side of the road in Thailand is that the first car used in the country was designed for left-hand driving. Therefore, the people of Thailand didn’t have another option at the time other than to start driving on the left side of the road. In addition, many people believe that trading with the British at the time contributed to the left-hand driving in Thailand.
Why the reasons for left-side driving in Thailand may be straightforward, there are some things you need to note about it. So, in this post, we will take a closer look at the various factors that affluence left-hand driving in the Land of Smiles.
The first car in Thailand was made for left-hand driving
In the 1900s, the Royal Family of England had a good relationship with the Royal Family of Thailand. In a bid to promote the relationship, the Queen of England gave the first car in Thailand to the King of Thailand as a form of a gift. Because England and the rest of the UK have always been driving on the left side of the road, the car was manufactured to be driven on the left side of the road.
As a result of the construction of the car, the King of Thailand didn’t have any other option than to drive on the left side of the road. Following this development, all roads in Thailand have been specifically built to ensure that people can drive smoothly on the left side of the road.
Although lots of countries have switched from driving on one side of the road to another, Thailand has never bothered to do so. Therefore, if you are going to Thailand, you should note that you will have to drive on the left side of the road.
Trading between Thais and the British might have also influenced it
Another reason for driving on the right side of the road in Thailand is the possible influence of trading with the Brits. Basically, automobiles were first introduced to many countries in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The majority of the countries wanted to solidify their relationships with their main trading partners; hence, they usually bought their automobiles from them.
During this period, Thailand had a great trading relationship with Britain. Although Thailand was never colonized by Britain or any other country, it was a major trading center in the past with lots of brits staying in the country. Consequently, rich Thais were buying their cars directly from Britain. To accommodate these vehicles, the Thai government needed to invest lots of money in the construction of roads that suit left-side driving.
Notably, Thailand is not the only country that started driving on the left side of the road because of British influence. Most countries that were former British colonies or heavily involved with Britain in the early 20th century now drive on the left side of the road. These countries include Jamaica, Bahamas, Pakistan, Botswana, Saint Lucia, and Anguilla. However, some of the former British colonies, such as the United States of America and Nigeria, intentionally switched from left-side driving to right-side driving to reduce the impact of colonization on the country.
More about left-side driving
Based on the data from World Standards, 35% of countries in the world use the left side of the road for driving. This means that out of the 195 nations in the globe, only 78 drive on the left side of the road. Of course, Thailand is one of them.
Nevertheless, you should understand that left-side driving didn’t just start out of nothing as there is a strong reason behind it. In the past, swordfight was a common phenomenon. Since most individuals were right-handed, they needed to use their right hands for fighting while riding a horse. When they switched from horses to automobiles, these swordsmen still had to use their right hands to hold their swords close to the window. This made it easy for them to attach the oncoming opponents inside an automobile, horses, etc.
Although there is no more need for people to fight with swords in their automobiles, left-side driving continues today. It should be noted that lots of countries have switched from driving on one side of the road to another.
Tips for driving on the left side of the road in Thailand
If you are from America or another country that drives on the right side of the road, driving in Thailand may be a bit unusual for you. This is because you need to switch from driving on the right side of the road to driving on the left side. However, you shouldn’t be afraid, you just have to follow these tips:
- Driving a car with manual transmission can be quite challenging. So, you should rather drive a vehicle with automatic transmission.
- When you first start driving on the left side of the road, you should test drive when the volume of cars on the road is low. This allows you to avoid traffic jams and other issues that may affect your ability to drive in a strange driving setting.
- When you are test-driving, it is important to have a co-driver who is used to driving on the left side of the road. Otherwise, you can allow the person to drive first and learn from them.
- Don’t speed when driving on the left side of the road. This enables you to stay in control of the car and avoid accidents despite the unfamiliarity of the driving setting.
Now, you understand why Thai people drive on the left side of the road and how to drive safely if you are new to this driving setting.
