Speed cameras, limits, and tickets

[Big Boy]

I recently did a trip to Isaan. Most of the journey was made at 120kph (sometimes slipping up to 130kph), which would be considered fairly conservative on UK roads. This felt perfectly safe to me i.e. conditions were good and I was basically going along with other traffic, and plenty overtaking me. Most of the way my SatNav was telling me the speed limit was 90kph or less. There was nothing to tell me anything different most of the way, so I assumed I was OK.

On the way home, I was sure that I'd driven through a speed trap (man dressed like building worker hiding behind a tree with what seemed to be a sophisticated camera). If it was, I'd already been caught, so I carried on regardless. I spoke about speed traps when I got home to others, but everybody said I was crazy.

The postman has just delivered a letter showing a photo of my car, saying I'd been caught doing 120kph in a 90kph zone - fine 400Baht. No problems - guilty as charged .

I'm just writing this post to let you know they are out there (could have been caught by another hiding between Bangkok and Phetchaburi - waiting for that letter now ). So many told me that I had been imagining it, I thought this needed to be shared.

Also, for future reference, what is the speed limit between Hua Hin and Bangkok? My SatNav puts it very low - would 90kph sound about right? If it is so low, it will significantly increase journey times.

[Bristolian]

They use the same technique at the U-turn at Km 81 just after you join the main drag to north Samut Songkram and Samut Sakhon. I got caught there a few months ago. Same story....Guilty as charged (137km/h) 400 baht fine in the post.

[Dannie Boy]

I looked at this before and apparently the speed limit varies between 90&120 kph depending on the road, so Petchkasem could well be 90 officially but of course the roads are not marked so that the police can extract tea money as required!!

[DSB]

I have been caught twice now with the cameras. I belive that the 90kph limit is for trucks, and cars are 110kph on highway 4, but I could be wrong! Last time I was caught was on Rama 2 road, the outer Bangkok bypass. The summons said the speed limit was 110kph. The 400 Baht fine is for the first time, second time is 1,000 baht. The registered owner of the car is liable for the fine, not the driver. If the registered owner does not have a licence, then there could be big problems if the car is caught speeding a third time.
I was also told that on the Bangkok - Chon Buri motorway, there are no cameras. Most of the local Thais know where the cameras are, so if you are cruising at 120kph, and no-one is passing you, then there must be a camera near.

[Big Boy]

They use the same technique at the U-turn at Km 81 just after you join the main drag to north Samut Songkram and Samut Sakhon. I got caught there a few months ago. Same story....Guilty as charged (137km/h) 400 baht fine in the post.

Yes, that sounds like the other place. My concern is that so many didn't believe me when I told them about it.

What was the speed limit where you were caught?

[dtaai-maai]

I think 90 is technically correct. I once got stopped on Petchkasem somewhere around Pranburi by a very friendly bunch of coppers who relieved me of my 200 baht (this was a fair few years back) and told me the speed limit was 90 but they were only stopping those doing over 115.

[Bristolian]

They use the same technique at the U-turn at Km 81 just after you join the main drag to north Samut Songkram and Samut Sakhon. I got caught there a few months ago. Same story....Guilty as charged (137km/h) 400 baht fine in the post.

Yes, that sounds like the other place. My concern is that so many didn't believe me when I told them about it.

What was the speed limit where you were caught?

The documents that I received said that the speed limit was 90km/h. Apparently they don't bother sending any fines unless your speed is over 120km/h, which mine clearly was

However when I enquired with the police they told me that there was no increase in a fine for future speeding offences. They all carry 400 Baht fines.

[Big Boy]

However when I enquired with the police they told me that there was no increase in a fine for future speeding offences. They all carry 400 Baht fines.

That's reassuring, with another potential letter in the system

[STEVE G]

Yes, the speed limit is 90 km/h unless signposted otherwise and the only bit of road that I drive on that is 120 is the Eastern bypass around Bangkok heading up towards Wang Noi.

[Frank Hovis]

The speed limit used to be 120km/h on all motorways but at some point about 10 years ago a certain chap suggested that we should all slow down a little, as I understand it no new laws were issued but where possible new speed limits of 90km/h were shown on electronic signs on tollways in and around Bangkok, these appear to have subsequently dropped to 80km/h for most of the ring-road/tollways.
I've been stopped on Highway 4 and told (by the police) that the speed limit is variously 120/110/100 km/h but that you have to slow down to 90km/h at junctions/u-turns. The lack of road signage doesn't help at all so my rule of thumb is 120 on divided/motorway style roads, 80 on single roads and 80 in urban areas unless otherwise indicated (many small towns on a main road are indicated at 40km/h).

Do you have to send your license in for 'points' to be added ?

[Big Boy]

No, this Thailand. No interest in the licence. The guy at the Post Office (where fines are paid) hinted there's always a spate of such fines around school fee time

[Nereus]

..........could have been caught by another hiding between Bangkok and Phetchaburi -

Yes, there is a regular spot about 10 Kms north of Phetchaburi. (providing it is not too hot or raining!)
But as with everything else, catch people out on an open stretch of dual carriageway, but ignore the idiots in the main street of Hua Hin.

[Big Boy]

I couldn't agree more, but mine was a fair cop. 2 wrongs don't make a right - no complaints.

[Frank Hovis]

but mine was a fair cop.

Not something you see here very often, had he dyed it ?

[Winkie]

Can confirm that cameras are used frequently on many major roads, North, South, East and West of Bangkok.

I drive a lot, about 55k per year, so I typically get 1 nice Photo per month.

I can confirm that they do rise to 1,000 Baht. But for me was 400 for quite some time, then 500, now sadly at 1,000.

Unless signposted otherwise, I believe all expressways are 90 and urban roads are 50kph. Often other drivers (on the opposite carriageway) will flash their lights to warn you. If you see multiple cars flashing, you'll have a good idea what is waiting around the next corner. I know some of the favourite spots North and East of Bangkok (I always remember them just after passing nice guy with a tripod and black blanket over his head), but not anywhere else.

I agree, its always a far cop, and at least the fine is not huge and surely ends up in official funds, not someone's pocket.