For those who have come from civillized countries, the traffic in Thailand looks chaotic. For those who have come through India, Pakistan and Nepal, the traffic in Thailand looks pretty orderly. At least people mostly drive in the same direction and usually stop at red traffic lights.

Traffic police can be a problem in/around Bangkok. Again, for those who have come from civilized countries, the traffic police in Thailand look corrupt and avaricious. For those who have come through India, Pakistan and Nepal, the traffic police in Thailand look like angels.

The law says that every motor vehicle must have compulsory insurance, and this also applies to temporarily imported motor vehicles. You can arrange for a short-term compulsory insurance. Ask at the customs office when you enter Thailand.

Cars and motorcycles usually drive on the left side of the road, unless they want to make a shortcut by driving against the traffic .

There's a troublesome law in Thailand which says that motorcycles must stick to the outermost left-hand side lane. This law is arbitrarily enforced in/around Bangkok and Pattaya.

Legal maximum speed limit is 90km/h for both cars and motorcycles, unless stated otherwise. Speed traps are rare, but not unknown, especially around Bangkok. Unofficial speed traps, often set up by a single officer, rely on the officer's visual sense for measuring speed. You have every right to protest to such fraud.

Motorcycles are not allowed to enter toll roads which are concentrated in Bangkok. Usually, there's a traffic sign at the entrance of a toll road, prohibiting motorcycles, but the way such a sign is displayed is pretty disorganized. If you have an organized mind, you may find yourself riding on a toll road, chased by a motorcycle police. You have every right to protest that the traffic sign is ambiguous, that Thai government should observe the United Nations Protocol on Road Signs and Signals.

The main road connecting the Don Muang Airport and central Bangkok (Wiphawadi-Rangsit Road) is prohibited for motorcycles. Motorcycles are required to ride on the paralleling frontage road.

Sometimes, in Bangkok, motorcycles are not allowed to enter an overpass/underpass. Usually, there's a traffic sign at the entrance of such an overpass/underpass, prohibiting motorcycles, but the way such a sign is displayed is pretty disorganized. Unlike on toll roads, however, you have a good chance of riding through such an overpass/underpass without being stopped.

Watch out for stray dogs on the road. They can be as dangerous as land mines.