The road system in Thailand is one of the best is Southeast Asia, surpassed only by Singapore and Malaysia. Considerable investment has been made in the road infrastructure during the last fifteen years and even in remote areas, it is surprisingly good. The weather and poor maintenance do take their toll on the road network, but anyone who has travelled in neighbouring Cambodia will testify that by comparison Thailand's roads are a joy to travel on.
Bangkok's traffic jams are justifiably notorious, but outside of the capital, travelling by road is generally hassle-free. The biggest problem with road transport is the Thai people's seemingly utter lack of knowledge of rules of the road or safety. Driving is usually done on the left side of the road, although some Thais tend to regard this as an optional guideline rather than a rule. An English language teacher once taught a class of twenty five traffic policemen and asked them the maximum speed limit on the open road in Thailand (110km per hour). He got twelve different answers and a heated debate followed.
A Taste of Thailand: "The police recently started an education campaign to discourage taxi drivers and other drivers from taking their hands off of the steering wheel to pray to a Buddha image when they pass an important shrine or temple. The quick prayer, which takes about three seconds, is performed to show respect to the shrine and bring good luck. Many drivers will perform the prayer regardless of the speed they are travelling or the prevailing traffic conditions....
