School Zones

[Big Boy]

Does anybody know the rules regarding School Zones please?

For ages, I only encountered one school zone, which was on the road to Pranburi. The road signs told me to slow down to 50kph through the zone. I often slowed down, but rarely got down to 50kph because I felt I was creating an obstruction to other road users, who were right up my arse.

Driving around Mukdahan, I encountered dozens of school zones where the road signs indicated either a 50kph or 30kph limit.

What I'm wondering is when are these speed restrictions in force? Is it a 24/7/365 speed enforcement? If it is, that is very harsh during school holidays or through the night when school is closed. Or when are the enforcements in play? I know in the UK there are similar restrictions, but only when the orange flashing lights indicate the restrictions in force.

I am curious to know because since Mukdahan I am seeing more and more school zones popping up, and I know one where there is a speed camera slap bang in the middle. Before the school zone there was a 90kph limit, but now the short stretch is 50kph.

[Dannie Boy]

The only school zones I’ve encountered have a 50 kph speed limit - as for enforcement it’s likely to be like the majority of Thailands driving laws - not enforced unless there’s a speed camera - I wouldn’t want to rely on using weekends of holidays as a defence!!

[Big Boy]

I must say, I'm surprised - we all criticise the knowledge of Thais regarding the rules of the road, but not one of us knows the regulations regarding School Zones. Or, if they do know, they aren't prepared to share.

There are so many school zones popping up, I can see them becoming a nice little earner for the BIB. I don't think I've seen anybody driving at the correct speed through these zones - even the zones with cameras. They must be creating them for a reason, and safety is usually quite low down Thailand's priority list.

[Dannie Boy]

As I mentioned above, I can only recall seeing 50 kph school zone notices, so I assume that’s the default position and anything else (higher or lower) will be displayed. It’s then up to the individual to keep within the limits or not, the same as they do with any other speed sign.

[Big Boy]

There are quite a few (I think in 50kph zones) where the limit is 30kph.

My main question though was are these limits in force 24/7/365? It seems silly that these limits would apply e.g. 18:00 to 06:00 each day. The new school zone that I regularly pass with a speed camera there before the school zone arrived is somewhere I normally go through at weekends, often after 21:00. Should I be slowing down to 50kph (normally a 90kph zone)?

There must be a rule. As I stated, in the UK, there are flashing amber lights when the school zone is operative.

[Dannie Boy]

This doesn’t answer your question but probably confirms what you already know - the majority don’t give a rats arse about it!!
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... oads-safer#
This came up on google

AI Overview


In general, school zone speed limits in Thailand are not enforced on weekends. They typically apply during the school year, primarily during school hours (around 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays) when children are present. However, if there are children present in the school zone on a weekend, the speed limit might still be enforced. Always be vigilant and pay attention to any flashing lights or specific signage that may indicate otherwise, as some jurisdictions might have different rules, especially if the school zone is near a facility used for year-round events