SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[AaronLV 12]

Yes. Earlier discussions talked about difficulty switching sides (left to right) but I think your method and reading US websites this may be easier. Thanks!

It has been very difficult for Nam to remember what side of the road she is suppose to drive on. She had 10 hours of lessons in Bangkok, and grew up riding motorbikes in her hometown. I have a feeling if they don't have solid years of actual driving experience count on them not going out by themselves for quite some time.

[BishopMnA 0]

Hey Guys,

AAm and I would 100% be up for a vacation to LV. I've been there a few times, but not in about 10 years...so it should be great. I agree with USCandual...we'll drink...they'll spend!

Peace!

MK+JC+AK

[ThaitoUSA 15]

My fiancée drives a big ole pickup truck. However, she's so short she needs to sit on a pillow to see above the steering wheel. The biggest adjustment for me was shifting gears with my left hand.

[*Robert* 2]

My fiancée drives a big ole pickup truck. However, she's so short she needs to sit on a pillow to see above the steering wheel. The biggest adjustment for me was shifting gears with my left hand.

Then she'd like my truck... it has adjustable foot pedals, like in aircraft!

Hey Guys,

AAm and I would 100% be up for a vacation to LV. I've been there a few times, but not in about 10 years...so it should be great. I agree with USCandual...we'll drink...they'll spend!

Peace!

MK+JC+AK

You are a right thinking man Mark!

[HYENA 4]

Yes. Earlier discussions talked about difficulty switching sides (left to right) but I think your method and reading US websites this may be easier. Thanks!

It has been very difficult for Nam to remember what side of the road she is suppose to drive on. She had 10 hours of lessons in Bangkok, and grew up riding motorbikes in her hometown. I have a feeling if they don't have solid years of actual driving experience count on them not going out by themselves for quite some time.

I'd agree with that completely. Several months total abroad and it's still a reaction training thing to tell myself LEFT side...if I need to swerve, do it left not right. She hasn't ridden cycles much in the past 10 years so her transition should be easier (I did all my driving up north)...just trying to figure out the most efficient way to get her on the road without our laws backfiring ie: Apparently the motor vehicle offices aren't accepting USCIS documentation as "permanent" or "legally in the US" enough to issue a license and I learned a temp green card expires so the short duration of a provisional license cannot be renewed...although the paperwork shows it, a work permit or an actual green card seems all they'll accept from what I read. I'm glad I' learning this now. This info is all useful...this website is invaluable!

[HYENA 4]

My fiancée drives a big ole pickup truck. However, she's so short she needs to sit on a pillow to see above the steering wheel. The biggest adjustment for me was shifting gears with my left hand.

I can picture that! LOL! I love hearing the stories of what happens once they get here. I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see a lot of these transitions. Some of the stories are hilarious and their humor is so original. I look forward to experiencing some of these unique moments, too (If I can at least get a NOA2) Uggh!

[daboyz 36]

I really had no problems driving in Thailand except for massive traffic in BKK. The only issue I had was everytime I went to use the turn signal I would turn on the windshield wipers. The levers are on opposite sides of the steering column. It still screws me up sometimes now that I am back in the US.

The biggest issue was crossing the street. After almost getting killed by taxis in BKK, I finally learned to look right then left. Now that I am back here the opposite. I have finally re-taught myself to look left again before crossing the street.

[*Robert* 2]

My fiancée drives a big ole pickup truck. However, she's so short she needs to sit on a pillow to see above the steering wheel. The biggest adjustment for me was shifting gears with my left hand.

I can picture that! LOL! I love hearing the stories of what happens once they get here.

She's not IN the USA yet... he's referring to Thailand.

[*Robert* 2]

I really had no problems driving in Thailand except for massive traffic in BKK. The only issue I had was everytime I went to use the turn signal I would turn on the windshield wipers. The levers are on opposite sides of the steering column. It still screws me up sometimes now that I am back in the US.

The biggest issue was crossing the street. After almost getting killed by taxis in BKK, I finally learned to look right then left. Now that I am back here the opposite. I have finally re-taught myself to look left again before crossing the street.

I never would drive in Bangkok, as I was never there long enough to want to endanger my life! I did plenty of driving elsewhere in Thailand, but only on a scooter. I miss my scooter in Chiang Mai! (bought it back in 2001, a Suzuki Best 110!)

What's fun is driving US vehicles in countries they drive on the left... now that's fun!

I hear ya on crossing the road!

[scandal 951]

I really had no problems driving in Thailand except for massive traffic in BKK. The only issue I had was everytime I went to use the turn signal I would turn on the windshield wipers. The levers are on opposite sides of the steering column. It still screws me up sometimes now that I am back in the US.

The biggest issue was crossing the street. After almost getting killed by taxis in BKK, I finally learned to look right then left. Now that I am back here the opposite. I have finally re-taught myself to look left again before crossing the street.

Same same. meuan gan.

After spending enough time in London, Sydney, Tokyo and of course Bangkok - I quickly learned that much more of the world is drive-on-left than we drive-on-righters would imagine. As it turns out, 34% drive-on-left, 66% drive-on-right. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right

In 1999 I was giving a workshop at a conference in Lisbon (ECOOP 99 - http://ecoop99.di.fc.ul.pt/techprogramme/t4.html Yup! that's me!). The intended keynote speaker, a distinguished American computer scientist, Peter Wegner, had traveled from the US to London, en route to Lisbon. In London, he did the American thing by looking left when stepping off the curb at Trafalgar Square. A nearly fatal mistake: he was hit by a bus and very nearly died. http://www.brown.edu/Administration/George...4/24GSJ07a.html

At the conference, we heard about it when the conference organizers announced the sad news over the PA, and had to cancel the keynote.

That incident has obviously stuck in my memory through these last 10 years and I am always paranoid when walking about in busy cities with drive-on-left.

(Postscript: What I hadn't realized until just tonight, in googling Wegner's name for the above link to the accident story, was that he was a Holocaust survivor who was in London for a Holocaust reunion:

His first stop in England was to attend a reunion of Jews who, as children, had escaped Nazi terror in their homelands when they were accepted by England as political refugees. Wegner had left Vienna as a 6-year-old, one of 10,000 children on the "Kindertransport."

Makes the story just that much more poignant.

[AaronLV 12]

The biggest issue was crossing the street. After almost getting killed by taxis in BKK, I finally learned to look right then left. Now that I am back here the opposite. I have finally re-taught myself to look left again before crossing the street.

I had just gotten used to looking the correct way when I left BKK, now being back in the US, I am having problems with it.

I really had no problems driving in Thailand except for massive traffic in BKK.

I was always nervous about driving in BKK, because I used to see the Traffic fly through red lights, and finally one day my Australian friend explained that at T intersections the far lane does not stop on red. Then it all made sense to me, and that made it easy. My little secret for driving there is that the center of the road is always on the drivers side of the car, this works in the US and Thailand, now Cambodia that was a whole other story. LOL

Apparently the motor vehicle offices aren't accepting USCIS documentation as "permanent" or "legally in the US" enough to issue a license and I learned a temp green card expires so the short duration of a provisional license cannot be renewed...although the paperwork shows it, a work permit or an actual green card seems all they'll accept from what I read. I'm glad I' learning this now. This info is all useful...this website is invaluable!

Not sure what you mean by the provisional GC. If you mean the 2 year Conditional GC, that is good enough to get a license on, they will issue the license valid until the expiration of the GC at least in NV. Just like right now she could get a license / state ID, but it would expire when her I94 expires, so I figured it was useless. My main concern was that she is insured, and to be insured she had to have a DL, and my insurance company accepted her DL from Thailand, so it works out. I doubt I will feel comfortable letting her drive by herself until well after she gets her GC.

I really think you might as well resign yourself to the fact that she won't be driving on her own here in the US for a good year, or you can buy her a scooter. I am contemplating that, just so she can run down to the Asian Market by the house or Wal-mart to shop when she gets bored staying home. Nam's friend we just visited in LA a few weeks ago has been here 3 years and she still doesn't have a license, he bought her a scooter and she cruises around locally on that. I thought that was a great idea.

I had the mentality before I got here, she has to learn to drive right away, but once being here, I kind of figured out, it is really not that important, just requires me to spend a lot more time with her, which I don't mind doing at all

[Danno2 0]

Aaron as always I'm learning from your experiences. Many, many thanks for posting up.

[Joe-N-Urai 0]

Hi folks. I recently got the thumbs up from my sweetheart to start this fun journey. I have been loving the posts and the great community that has evolved....THANKS!

This driver’s license thing... had me worried, so I have looked and looked and have yet to find where the state will offer us an unpleasant surprise.

I grew up in VT and lived in Mass.... I have to hand it to the freedom loving people of Arizona...this is what they say:

38) What is needed for a person from another country to drive in Arizona?

You may legally drive in Arizona using a valid driver license from another country. An International Driving License or Permit is not required, but is recommended since it can be printed in English, and can be used in conjunction with the driver license from the other country. If an International Driving License or Permit is used alone, it must be issued by a country other than the United States. ...

Wish us luck!

Joe

[scandal 951]

Hi folks. I recently got the thumbs up from my sweetheart to start this fun journey. I have been loving the posts and the great community that has evolved....THANKS!

This driver’s license thing... had me worried, so I have looked and looked and have yet to find where the state will offer us an unpleasant surprise.

I grew up in VT and lived in Mass.... I have to hand it to the freedom loving people of Arizona...this is what they say:

38) What is needed for a person from another country to drive in Arizona?

You may legally drive in Arizona using a valid driver license from another country. An International Driving License or Permit is not required, but is recommended since it can be printed in English, and can be used in conjunction with the driver license from the other country. If an International Driving License or Permit is used alone, it must be issued by a country other than the United States. ...

Wish us luck!

Joe

Hi Joe,

Good luck, and welcome aboard!

1. If you're new to VJ, suggest you read the FAQs and Guides, they're really helpful.

2. Please fill out a timeline

3. According to your profile, you are filing for a K-1 at Chicago Lock Box. Those two things don't equate. K-1 filing should be either VSC or CSC (I think if you reside in AZ, it will be CSC).

[AaronLV 12]

Ok. There has been so many discussions lately about driver licenses, domestic vs. international, etc. So I decided to do some research tonight and here is the jist of what I found.

1. The foreign license can be used provided the following:

- It is not expired

- It is in English or is accompanied by a certified translation

2. An international license is not required (Usually this is used as the certified translation into the national language)

This is covered by the U.N Convention on Road Traffic (1968), provided the country whose license is being used has signed the treaty. A majority of the countries in the world have signed the treaty (Thailand has), so our spouse drivers license with Thai and English on it can be used with no problems for driving in the US, no need to have them get an international license.

Once they become permanent residents (GC) they can no longer use the license and must get a valid US license or or learners permit.

So I think we can finally put this topic to bed. Moral of the story here if you want your spouse or fiancee to drive in the US while awaiting their GC, have them get a new Thai License that is in both Thai, and English.

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These are excerpts from the UN United Nations Convention on Road Traffic which confirms what I wrote above.

Validity of driving license

1.Contracting Parties shall recognize:

(a) Any domestic driver's license drawn up in their national language or in one of their national languages, or, if not drawn up in such a language, accompanied by a certified translation;

(B) Any domestic driver's license conforming to the provisions of Annex 6 to this Convention; and

© Any international driver's license conforming to the provisions of Annex 7 to this Convention, as valid for driving in their territories a vehicle coming within the categories covered by domestic driver's license, provided that the license is still valid and that it was issued by another Contracting Party or subdivision thereof or by an association duly answered thereto by such other Contracting Party. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to learner-driver permits.

Excerpt from Annex 6

1. The domestic driving permit shall take the form of a document.

2. The permit shall be printed in the language or languages prescribed by the

authority issuing it or empowered to issue it; it shall, however, bear the title

"permis de conduire" in French, with or without the same title in other languages,

and the name and/or distinctive sign of the country in which the permit is issued.

3. Entries made on the permit shall either be in Latin characters or English

cursive script only, or be repeated in that form.

4. The following particulars appear on the driving permit; they shall be

preceded or followed by the numbers 1 to 11.

1. Surname

2. First names 1/

3. Date and place of birth 2/

4. Address 3/

5. Authority issuing the permit

6. Date and place of issue of the permit

7. Date of expiry of the validity of the permit 4/

8. Number of the permit

9. Signature and/or stamp or seal of the authority issuing the permit

10. Holder's signature 5/

11. Category or categories of vehicle and any sub-categories for which the

permit is valid with indication of the date of issue of the permit and

the dates of expiry of the validity for each of those categories.

In addition, the holder's photograph shall be affixed to the driving permit.

It shall be a matter for domestic legislation to determine any additional

particulars to be included in the driving permit as well as the format and the

material on which the driving permit is printed.