PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya’s roads can feel like a law unto themselves, and foreign tourists and long-term visitors often find themselves caught in the middle. Many report that while Thai drivers routinely ignore traffic rules with little consequence, foreigners are more likely to be stopped by police, particularly at checkpoints, for helmet use, license checks, and paperwork verification.
One long-term expat noted, “Just put your helmet on, problem solved. Ride around on scooters without helmets and you get a ticket…pretty simple really. Been driving around Pattaya for 30 years, never got a ticket.” Another added, “Thais, no helmet, no problem. Farangs, no helmet, ticket or back pocket.” The uneven enforcement has left some foreigners feeling singled out, while others accept it as part of living in a foreign country.
The inconsistency extends beyond helmet laws. Some reported that certain checkpoints only target foreigners while ignoring locals, with one visitor commenting, “Some police stop focus on foreigner, some other on Thai. On my way home I pass near a police stop which is on 1 or 2 times per week, I have never been stopped except 1 time. I had a Thai girl on my bike, she was asked for a urine test, not me.”
Yet for many, the solution remains simple: obey the law. “If on a motorcycle, wear a helmet. Driving five years here, only stopped twice—once going through a red light, my problem, second time at a checkpoint, no problem,” one expat shared. Another emphasized, “Helmet, driving license, no alcohol = no problems.”
Some visitors also note that the system is financially motivated. “In Pattaya, it’s only one thing that matters and it’s money,” one comment read. Still, others see it as a minor inconvenience compared with the potential consequences of unsafe driving. “Much rather have a shake down over here than be getting points and fines back home,” one expat said.
Overall, foreigners driving in Pattaya must navigate roads largely on their own. The consensus among long-term visitors is that consistency in obeying traffic rules—wearing helmets, carrying the correct licenses, and driving responsibly—minimizes risk and avoids conflict with authorities. While locals may flout rules with impunity, for expats and tourists, vigilance is essential.
