Thai Traffic Signs Explained: Types, Meanings, Colors, and What Every Driver Should Know
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Thai traffic signs fall into three main types: regulatory signs, warning signs and guide signs. Most regulatory signs are circular and tell you what you must or mustn't do, and ignoring them can bring a fine. Warning signs are yellow diamonds that tell you what to look out for ahead. Guide signs are rectangles showing directions, distances and places. Every sign has an official Thai code: for example, บ.1 is the Stop sign and ต.56 is the pedestrian crossing warning sign.
This guide covers the signs you'll see most often with their codes and meanings, how to read them by colour and shape, the look-alike pairs that confuse new drivers, the fines for ignoring them, their Thai and English names, and the signs worth revising before your driving test. It's written by the Talata team. Talata is a Thai marketplace for buying, selling and renting, with used cars and motorcycles for anyone getting their first vehicle.
What are traffic signs, and how are they different from road markings?
Traffic signs are the plates installed beside or above the road to tell drivers and pedestrians the rules, restrictions, warnings and directions. Thai law groups them under "traffic signs and markings" (เครื่องหมายจราจร), a term that also covers the lines and symbols painted on the road surface, such as stop lines, zebra crossings and lane arrows. The Land Traffic Act requires drivers to obey both.
Knowing your signs isn't only about passing the driving test. Reading them quickly helps you make decisions in time on real roads: spot a bend warning early and you can slow down before the danger, know where parking is banned and you avoid tickets and wheel clamps. New drivers often mix up signs that look alike, and learning the colour and shape rules first makes it much easier to tell them apart. It also helps to remember that Thailand drives on the left.
How many types of traffic signs are there in Thailand?
Under the Ministerial Regulation on installing traffic signs on highways B.E. 2563 (2020), there are three types of traffic signs: regulatory, warning and guide signs. The orange signs you see at roadworks aren't a fourth type; they're a temporary kind of warning sign.
| Type | What it does | Official Thai codes |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory signs | Tell you what you must or mustn't do; ignoring them is an offence | บ.1–บ.55 |
| Warning signs | Warn you in advance of hazards or road conditions | ต.1–ต.74 |
| Construction warning signs | Warn of temporary roadworks or construction zones | ตก.1–ตก.26 |
| Guide signs | Show directions, distances, places and facilities | No single code series |
The Thai letters are abbreviations: บ. comes from บังคับ (mandatory), ต. from เตือน (warning) and ตก. marks warning signs used for construction work.
Regulatory signs in Thailand
Regulatory signs order drivers to do or not do something, and ignoring them is an offence. They come in two kinds. Prohibition signs are white circles with a red border and a black symbol, sometimes crossed by a red diagonal bar, such as No Entry, No Overtaking and No Parking. Mandatory signs are blue circles with a white symbol, such as Keep Left and One Way. Two signs have shapes of their own: Stop is a red octagon and Give Way is an inverted triangle, so you can recognise them even when you can't read the text.
| Code | Sign | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
| บ.1 | Stop | Stop before the stop line or the road you're joining, let traffic and pedestrians pass, then go when it's safe |
| บ.2 | Give Way | Slow down and let vehicles or pedestrians on the road ahead go first |
| บ.3 | Give way to oncoming traffic | Stop and let oncoming vehicles pass first; common at bridges and narrow roads |
| บ.4 | No Overtaking | Don't overtake other vehicles in the signed zone |
| บ.5 | No Entry | No vehicles of any kind may enter |
| บ.6 / บ.7 | No U-turn to the right / No U-turn to the left | Don't make a U-turn in the direction shown |
| บ.8 / บ.9 | No left turn / No right turn | Don't turn that way |
| บ.15 | No trucks | Trucks may not enter the signed zone |
| บ.16 | No motorcycles | Motorcycles may not enter the signed zone |
| บ.27 | No horn | Don't sound your horn; common outside hospitals and schools |
| บ.29 | No Parking | No parking, except stopping briefly to pick up or drop off people or goods without delay |
| บ.30 | No Stopping | No stopping or parking at all, not even to pick up or drop off |
| บ.32 | Speed limit | Don't exceed the number on the sign, in km/h |
| บ.37 | One Way | Drive only in the direction of the arrow, never against it |
| บ.40 / บ.41 | Keep Left / Keep Right | Pass the island or obstacle on the side the sign points to |
Warning signs in Thailand
Warning signs tell you in advance about situations to watch out for. They don't prohibit anything, but ignoring them raises the risk of an accident. The standard design is a yellow diamond with a black border and symbol. Whenever you see one, ease off the accelerator and look for whatever it's warning you about.
| Code | Sign | Meaning and what to do |
|---|---|---|
| ต.1–ต.10 | Bends | A left bend, right bend or series of bends ahead; slow down before you reach it |
| ต.21 | Roundabout ahead | You're approaching a roundabout; slow down and be ready to give way to traffic on it |
| ต.50–ต.51 | U-turn point | A U-turn point ahead; watch for vehicles slowing or changing lanes to use it |
| ต.56 | Pedestrian crossing | A crossing ahead; slow down and be ready to stop for pedestrians |
| ต.57 | School, watch for children | School zone; drive slowly and watch for children running out |
| ต.61 | No-overtaking zone ahead | Warns that a no-overtaking zone is coming; not the same as บ.4, which is a regulatory sign |
Other warning signs you'll often see on Thai roads include junctions, slippery roads, steep climbs or descents, animals, railway crossings and traffic lights ahead. The traffic-lights-ahead sign is placed before junctions with signals, so start easing off as soon as you see it and you won't have to brake hard when the light changes.
Construction warning signs (orange)
Where there's roadwork or construction, you'll see temporary warning signs with an orange background and a black border and symbol, coded ตก., such as construction zone, detour or lane closure. Orange marks a temporary situation, unlike permanent yellow warning signs. When you see one, slow down and follow the cones or barriers.
Guide signs in Thailand
Guide signs give information that makes your journey easier, such as destination names, directions, distances, exits, petrol stations, rest areas, hospitals and tourist attractions. They're rectangular or square. The regulation sets out two styles: black text on a white background, or white, yellow or red text on a green, blue or brown background. Signs to tourist attractions and historic sites use a brown background.
These signs aren't mandatory, but they help you plan your route. On long highway journeys it pays to read them in time, so you can move into the right lane well before your exit instead of swerving at the last moment.
Supplementary plates under the main sign
Sometimes a small plate is fixed below the main sign to add details, such as the hours when parking is banned, the distance to a hazard or the type of vehicle the sign applies to. Supplementary plates for regulatory signs are white with a black border and text; those for warning signs are yellow with a black border and text. Always read them: a no-parking sign with times on it only applies during those hours.
What do the colours and shapes of Thai traffic signs mean?
The quickest way to read a sign is to look at its colour and shape before the text. Each group uses its own colours, so once you know the pattern you can guess the meaning before you're close enough to read it.
| Colour | Main meaning | Sign group | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Prohibition or stop | Regulatory (prohibition) | Stop, No Entry, No Parking |
| Blue | Something you must do | Regulatory (mandatory) | Keep Left, One Way, Roundabout |
| Yellow | Caution | Warning | Bends, Pedestrian crossing, Roundabout ahead |
| Orange | Construction zone | Temporary warning | Construction zone, Detour |
| White, green, blue | Directions and information | Guide | Direction signs, distances |
| Brown | Tourist attractions and historic sites | Guide | Directions to tourist attractions |
Blue causes the most confusion because it's used on both regulatory and guide signs. The shape settles it: a blue circle is an order you must follow, while a blue rectangle is travel information. The octagon and the inverted triangle are reserved for Stop and Give Way, so you can recognise them even when they're faded or partly hidden.
Thai traffic signs that look alike and confuse new drivers
Several pairs of signs differ only in small details but mean very different things. These pairs come up often in the test and catch people out on real roads.
| Commonly confused pair | The difference |
|---|---|
| No Parking (บ.29) vs No Stopping (บ.30) | No Parking still lets you stop briefly to pick up or drop off; No Stopping bans stopping even for a moment |
| Stop (บ.1) vs Give Way (บ.2) | Stop means a full stop every time; Give Way lets you slow down and carry on if the road ahead is clear |
| No Overtaking (บ.4) vs No-overtaking zone ahead (ต.61) | บ.4 is an order that applies immediately; ต.61 warns that a no-overtaking zone is coming up |
| Roundabout (บ.48) vs Roundabout ahead (ต.21) | บ.48 is a blue circle telling you to go round to the left and give way to traffic already on the roundabout; ต.21 is a yellow diamond warning that a roundabout is near |
| Blue turn signs vs red-bordered no-turn signs | They use similar arrows, but the colour gives the opposite meaning: blue means you must, a red border means you mustn't |
What are the fines for ignoring Thai traffic signs?
Section 21 of the Land Traffic Act requires drivers to obey the traffic signs and markings on the road, and breaking them can bring a fine. Many offences tied directly to signs had their penalties raised by the Land Traffic Act (No. 13) B.E. 2565 (2022), which has been in force since 5 September 2022.
| Related sign or signal | Offence | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic lights | Running a red light | 4,000 baht |
| Speed limit sign (บ.32) | Speeding | 4,000 baht |
| Pedestrian crossing sign (ต.56) and zebra crossings | Not stopping for pedestrians at a zebra crossing | 4,000 baht |
| One Way sign (บ.37) | Driving the wrong way | 2,000 baht |
| No Parking sign (บ.29) | Parking in a no-parking zone | 2,000 baht |
Officers may write a lower amount on the ticket than these ceilings. If you've received a ticket and want to check the actual amount or pay online, see how to check Thai traffic fines online by licence plate.
Thai and English names for common signs
Stop and Give Way signs in Thailand carry the words STOP and GIVE WAY in English as well as Thai. For the rest, the table below matches the Thai names you'll hear from a driving instructor or see in the test with their usual English names.
| Thai name | English name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| หยุด | Stop | Come to a complete stop |
| ให้ทาง | Give Way (Yield in the US) | Let traffic on the road ahead go first |
| ห้ามเข้า | No Entry | Vehicles may not enter |
| ห้ามแซง | No Overtaking | No overtaking in the signed zone |
| ห้ามจอดรถ | No Parking | No parking along the signed stretch |
| ห้ามหยุดรถ | No Stopping | No stopping or parking |
| ห้ามกลับรถ | No U-Turn | No U-turns |
| จำกัดความเร็ว | Speed Limit | Don't exceed the speed shown |
| ทางโค้ง | Curve / Bend | Bend ahead |
| คนข้ามถนน | Pedestrian Crossing | Watch for people crossing |
If you're driving in Thailand on a licence from another country, check what paperwork you need in our guide to the international driving permit in Thailand.
Traffic signs and the Thai driving licence test
The DLT written test has 50 questions, and you need at least 90%, or 45 correct answers, to pass. Regulatory, warning and guide signs are always on it. Questions usually show a sign and ask what it means, or ask what you should do when you see it. The ones that come up most are basic regulatory signs such as Stop, Give Way, No Entry, No Overtaking and No Parking, and warning signs such as bends, pedestrian crossings and roundabout ahead. First-time applicants also have to complete the DLT's driver training course before taking the test.
A tip that works: don't learn signs one by one. Learn them in groups by colour and shape first, so you can rule out wrong answers quickly, then spend extra time on the look-alike pairs in the table above. If you're not sure which licence to apply for, see the types of Thai driving licence.
Why find your first car on Talata
Most people revising traffic signs are preparing for their driving test, and before long they'll be looking for their first vehicle. Talata brings together used car and motorcycle listings from many sellers in one place. You can filter by budget, model and province, compare several vehicles before you decide, and message the seller directly. Before a viewing, check that the tax, compulsory insurance and any unpaid tickets are in order; see the full list in what to check when buying a used car.
If you already have a vehicle and want to move up to a new one, you can list your current one for sale on Talata. Add a full set of photos and details, state clearly when the tax expires, then wait for interested buyers to get in touch and compare their offers before agreeing to the transfer.
Frequently asked questions
How many traffic signs are there in Thailand?
Under the Ministerial Regulation on installing traffic signs on highways B.E. 2563 (2020), there are 55 regulatory signs, 42 warning sign entries (some with several versions, coded from ต.1 to ต.74) and 8 construction warning sign entries. Guide signs have no fixed number, because their text changes with place names and routes.
Can I turn left on a red light if there's no sign?
No. You may only turn left on red at junctions with a "left turn at any time" sign (เลี้ยวซ้ายผ่านตลอด). At junctions without this sign, you must wait for the lights like the other lanes. Turning anyway counts as an offence and you can be ticketed.
Do I lose licence points for ignoring traffic signs?
It depends on the offence. Running a red light and driving the wrong way cost 2 points, and speeding costs 1 point. For ignoring general traffic signs and parking in a no-parking zone, points are deducted only if you don't pay the ticket by the deadline. Every licence holder has 12 points, and reaching zero means a 90-day licence suspension. How to check your points and get them back is covered in checking Thai traffic fines online.
Can I put up traffic signs in my housing estate or on private land?
Roads in a private housing estate, car parks and construction sites on private land can use signs to organise traffic inside, but those signs are the property's own rules and don't carry the legal force of official traffic signs. It's best to use the standard designs and colours so everyone understands them. On public roads, the law doesn't allow members of the public to install traffic signs; only the agency responsible for the road can do that.
