Why is the outside (offside) lane so attractive?

[HHTel]

Having been here over 11 years, I have never been able to 'turn Thai' as far as driving is concerned. I've had a few rants on here before but not for a while. So, time for another one.

Why oh why do Thai drivers stick to the outside lane when all the nearside lanes are empty? It doesn't matter whether it's a 2 lane, 3 lane, 4 lane or more. The outside lane always has a queue of traffic driving bumper to bumper (2 second rule!!!). This forces other drivers (like me) to also break the law and undertake those cars. Here is the same as anywhere else and the outside lane is for overtaking only (except a 2 lane highway). They don't get anywhere quicker. In fact it increases their time and 'ups' their stress levels and increases the risk of accidents. I was always taught that if the lane to the left of me is empty, then that's where I should be!

The 'forgivers' here would say "It's not their fault as they've never been taught to drive!". You can't teach 'common sense'.

Rant over for another year!

[Big Boy]

This forces other drivers (like me) to also break the law and undertake those cars. Here is the same as anywhere else and the outside lane is for overtaking only (except a 2 lane highway).

I didn't realise that, so I'm as guilty as the Thais. I'd always been told it was the American style of driving here i.e. drive in the lane that best matches your speed.

In fact, this is the first time I've heard that UK (and probably many other countries) standards are applied here i.e. drive on the left and only overtake on the right.

You live and learn. Will I change? Probably not while the rest of the nation are doing it wrong.

[lomuamart]

I'm not sure about this but one feasible explanation I was given is that the nearside lanes, especially the most nearside, are heavily potholed and suffer from subsidence from inferior road making materials and the amount of heavy vehicles using them.
Therefore, stick to the outside lanes as that will make you ride less bumpy.

[ste860]

you can actually get fined for being in the outside lane if the others are empty ,its not uncommon to get fined for it if the highway police set up a check point

[Lung Per]

I'm not sure about this but one feasible explanation I was given is that the nearside lanes, especially the most nearside, are heavily potholed and suffer from subsidence from inferior road making materials and the amount of heavy vehicles using them.
Therefore, stick to the outside lanes as that will make you ride less bumpy.

Correct. Even the big trucks will go in the outside lanes for the very same reason.

[STEVE G]

The police do sometimes try to control this on some roads in Thailand,( or profit from it,) by having a guy on a radio to a roadblock ahead pulling people for staying in the outside lane. I know of several stretches of road in Buriram where they do it quite regularly. Perhaps they can't afford a speed-gun up there!

[Frank Hovis]

This forces other drivers (like me) to also break the law and undertake those cars. Here is the same as anywhere else and the outside lane is for overtaking only (except a 2 lane highway).

Somewhere in another thread I posted a link to an English version of the Thaiway Code (not a joke one the real one they have at the driving license centres).
Here it is again, maybe this link should be in a 'sticky' on the motoring forum. http://thailaws.com/law/t_laws/tlaw0140_5.pdf

See section 45 of the above document. You are not breaking the law if there are two lanes going in the same direction.
Yes, it's stupid to drive in the outside lane all the time but people in every country do it, at least here you don't have the break the law to pass them.

[Big Boy]

Thank you Frank, so I and the rest of Thailand haven't been doing it wrong

Please don't get me wrong, where I can, I still drive on the left, and overtake on the right - it's how I've been taught to drive. However, that isn't always practical over here.

[Dannie Boy]

As most of the main road in this area is three lanes, I tend to stick in the middle lane unless I need to pass a slower moving vehicle using the outside Lane (rather than undertake as many Thais do) and then return to the middle lane. If I was in the UK and if the road was clear, I would happily use the near side Lane, but here in Thailand you very often see bikes and even cars pulling out from a side road without looking, so it's an accident in the making.

[Frank Hovis]

In general most of my driving is on the bypass so only two lanes but I tend to stick to the left lane, pulling out to pass slower vehicles, but if I approach someone who is in the outside lane going slower than me then I flash my headlamps and with caution (but at speed) pass them on the left and stay left until I have to pull out to pass someone.

A lot of the 'right lane hogs' will indicate right when you flash them, at least letting you know that they are aware and accepting of your intended manoeuvre. Never had anyone 'road rage' me for undertaking (unlike in the UK).

When it's a three lane road I stick to the left as much as possible undertaking the middle lane and outside lane cars, being aware as Dannie Boy pointed out that there are those that treat the left hand lane as a never ending slip road.

I feel safer being in a position in the road where it's not possible to have a Thai driver either side of me and the left hand lane usually has the better hard shoulder / run off area should there be a requirement to use it.

[Lung Per]

In general most of my driving is on the bypass so only two lanes but I tend to stick to the left lane, pulling out to pass slower vehicles, but if I approach someone who is in the outside lane going slower than me then I flash my headlamps and with caution (but at speed) pass them on the left and stay left until I have to pull out to pass someone.

A lot of the 'right lane hogs' will indicate right when you flash them, at least letting you know that they are aware and accepting of your intended manoeuvre. Never had anyone 'road rage' me for undertaking (unlike in the UK).

When it's a three lane road I stick to the left as much as possible undertaking the middle lane and outside lane cars, being aware as Dannie Boy pointed out that there are those that treat the left hand lane as a never ending slip road.

I feel safer being in a position in the road where it's not possible to have a Thai driver either side of me and the left hand lane usually has the better hard shoulder / run off area should there be a requirement to use it.

Thai traffic will improve when they change to driving in the right side of the road.

[heartofmidlothian]

I always feel that when using the 3 lane highways, being in the left lane is the most dangerous. You will have a constant series of drivers and motorbikes pulling out into this lane without looking. If you are in the middle, you have 2 options to move to instead of just 1. New Thailand drivers beware though, after 20 years driving here, trying to work out any common sense on these roads is fatal. Expect the worst at all times and best tip I can offer is to not react in anyway to the shocking driving you see. You cant change the way they drive but just try to stay safe.

[Big Boy]

Thai traffic will improve when they change to driving in the right side of the road.

That will always depend on the position of the sun, and where the most shade is

[a10ams]

I have been driving here for seven years. It's simple ..... the outside lane is reserved for coaches, mini buses, Mercs, red number plates, hopelessly overloaded pick-ups, youngsters with boot spoilers and matt black bonnets and of course the occasional person who may be turning right at some point within the next 20 kms.

The middle lane is for normal people who drive between 30km/hr and 160km/hr. It will also be used by a truck doing 80 km/hr who is overtaking another truck doing 79.99 km/hr. This truck may also need half of the outside lane to complete this particular manoeuvre.

The inside lane is for sensible truck drivers. It appears that buses are not allowed in this lane at all. However, if it is relatively smooth tarmac and hasn't been chewed up yet, then this is a good choice for minibuses on a tight time schedule.

The hard shoulder is for motorcycles travelling in either direction, and for on-coming cars who joined the main road but need to turn off again before the next U-turn. It is deemed okay to zip down the wrong carriageway for up to 2kms. Hazard lights should be on while attempting this. The hard shoulder is also ideal for selling sausages and bags of salt.

Easy peasy. Drive safe.

[hhfarang]

A bit of a slide off topic, but still about lanes. As you go south from the main traffic light, when the middle barrier ends, there is a wide turning lane with diagonal yellow hashed stripes almost all the way to Market Village. In my mind this is a right turn lane, not a driving lane which many seem use it for to get around traffic pileups.

I came the closest to getting killed yesterday that I have in ten years living here. I was going to AA insurance offices (same building as the Thai Learning Center) and I parked in the dirt lot directly across the road.

Traffic was backed up in both lanes from the traffic light to beyond that lot. As I started to walk across the street between the cars the light had changed and the cars started to edge forward so I hurried between the cars to that middle "turning" lane and when I stepped into it a motorcycle taxi driver doing at least 90 km per hour (probably to pass the backed up traffic and make the light while it was green) actually brushed my shirt with his handlebar. If I had been one step faster he would have plowed me down at such a speed both of us would probably be dead now!