So why don’t Thais want to wear their bike helmets?

By The Thaiger & The Nation

 

 

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/so-why-dont-thais-want-to-wear-their-bike-helmets

 

The Thaiger & The Nation: 2018-07-01

Stupid reasons basically, if you can even call them reasons ?

Easy, do what they did when they introduced compulsory wearing of helmets in Vietnam both for the rider and all passengers. 

 

From day 1, anybody caught without helmet, driver or passenger and the bike was immediately confiscated

never to be seen again and no  discussion whatever.

 

It worked and the idea was broadly supported by Vietnamese society.

 

 

 

Interesting statistic that only 7% of kids wear helmets. Given that none of them have a licence anyway, respect for road rules obviously isn't a priority, And it is that exact disregard for the rules that we see across all aspects of driving here. it isn't just the helmets, its jumping the lights, going the wrong way down a road. Rules aren't enforced properly, so they are ignored.

You would have to set up a helmet classification allowed to be worn. A construction hard hat, which we have all seen, is not a "helmet" for motorcycles.

Easy to understand in a climate like Thailand, who wants to stick a smelly old pot on their head when it's much nicer to feel the breeze in your hair (if you've got any) from a safety point of view not such a good idea, but as long as you can get away with the likes of a 10 press-ups punishment it will continue unabated!

Give them a break, they are only just getting the idea to wear

helmets on motorbikes,and that has took years,but still not

100 %, I see professional ?,the bike racers all wear helmets,

the ordinary cyclists,most likely think they don't go fast enough

to wear one, not thinking,that they could be hit by a motorbike,car ,

or truck,!             P.S. I thought you were referring to cyclists

regards worgeordie

Edited July 1, 20188 yr by worgeordie
add on

And after the helmet safety speach off he goes without fastening the helmet , OOP's off it pops in any sort of accident , and as for the camera's catching and sending you a ticket , the motor bikes are a free for all , for who ever wants to use them , ,He has a work permit , ???  advertising /safety lecher can be done just as pathetically by Thais 

A lot believe they are infallible. As (they think) they are the best rider on the road, a hell of a lot believe they will never be involved in a serious accident. 

About a year and a half ago, I was on Hwy 12 coming from Sukhothai back to Chiang Mai.  8:00 in the morning, Sunday, absolutely no traffic.  Was cruising along at just 80kph on my 300cc Forza, when some idiot shot out of a road side fruit stand and T-boned me.  Shattered my left wrist, sent me flying and rolling over and over on the road.  One of the cops at the scene picked up my now scratched up LS2 helmet, looked at it, then told me my helmet, more than likely, saved my life.

I've been riding for more than 50 years, and my helmet goes on before I turn the ignition.  My Thai wife and adopted Thai son learned very quickly - they don't put on their helmet first, I take their keys. And they wear full face helmets, not those little pieces of crap that sits on top of their heads.  

I will try to hot any advance?

If I actually wrote what I feel with regards to this subject then it would almost definitely be removed by the mods so I will say only this.....I can't change what almost a entire nation believes, and in fairness it is their prerogative what they want to think but as a devote atheist I personally don't believe in reincarnation. Basically, as far as I'm concerned  it is one strike and your out.  Because I've become a father figure to our grandson, I'm going to make sure as he grows up that he understands that he mustn't be brainwashed by anyone from family members to school teachers into believing that he will receive a second chance. I do generally respect Buddhism and in many ways it makes more sense that other faiths, but not in its belief of reincarnation. I think it is a significant factor in the appalling statistics on Thai roads. 

 

As I've said before, the fine for not wearing a helmet should be at least 10,000 baht. If you want results then hit people where it hurts the most.  

 

 

The so called reasons they give are baloney. They don’t wear them because they either think they are invincible or because they are not being forced to. 

I stay up in the sticks and the bikes with 4 kids on ridden by a 12 yr old pass the policeman waving them in to school on a daily basis. Beside him is the 100% compliance helmet sign. 

They are light years away. 

even the ones that do wear helmets only do so to stop their skin going darker, rather than for safety

99% of the motor bike and push bike riders wear helmets in my area so as everything else here in LOS, there's no concessions across the country. 

Increase the fine to 2000 baht.

 

It will cause a huge uproar & alot of hardship to some, but hopefully the message will get through to them.

.the construction helmet is a safer bet than the paper mache helmets is see for sale in the shops,

why cause hardship, if they can afford an expensive phone they can afford a helmet. i see the poorest of the poor on their i phones, so no excuse at all.a phone aint going to save their lives, still this is the thai thought train i suppose,i did mention , i got done as my passenger refuse a helmet, only popping to the bus station to take her home, (ok i know it was my fault before you lot chime in)

on another point when i went to the cop shop to pay my 400 baht fine and get my licence back, i did not see one Thai, in the waiting room to pay the helmet fine, they were stopping Thais so i can only assume they were paying cash to the cops,

Edited July 1, 20188 yr by mercman24

You don't need a helmet if you have the correct amulet.

Laziness   

11 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

.the construction helmet is a safer bet than the paper mache helmets is see for sale in the shops,

A construction helmet is totally unsuited to motorcycle use..... 

That's some of the worst safety advice I've ever heard.... 

You must be Thai

Helmets to Thais are uncomfortable and they mess their hair.

Seat-belts are similar....uncomfortable and crease their clothes.

Then of course....being so different here....there are buddha images and flowers...all making Thais free from harm!

At a certain age when cruising at night you can't be seem if wearing a helmet. 

 

Conversely if from a certain set and riding a mountain bike a fancy helmet is de rigeur.

To a lot of Thai people, a decent helmet costs over a week of their salary.  Anything cheaper is pretty much useless, and they're smart enough to know that.

 

See how you'd feel about buying the replacement after someone steals 2 or 3 of them at one week's salary a pop.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't walk around carrying a helmet on the off chance I'm going to be hopping on the back of a scooter taxi that day.  I do wear one when my trip is planned, and the point of origin and destination both have a safe place to leave a helmet.  But that's a rare trip for me since I no longer commute to the office that way.

 

It's a lot of the same economics that put so many Thais on scooters in the first place, instead of safely ensconced in a 4 wheeled vehicle with A/C, doors, a lot of steel and seat belts.  The safety Rubicon is crossed when they hop on the scooter in the first place.

 

Edited July 1, 20188 yr by impulse

Because if they have a helmet on, they can't answer or talk on their phones? Some things are more important than life and limb.

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

 

See how you'd feel about buying the replacement after someone steals 2 or 3 of them at one week's salary a pop.

 

 

I've had a scooter and helmet in Chiang Mai for 7 years, and never had the helmet stolen. Perhaps my head is too big.

On the other hand, stealing the registration stickers from bikes seems to be a popular pastime.

51 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

As I've said before, the fine for not wearing a helmet should be at least 10,000 baht. If you want results then hit people where it hurts the most.

Correct, but most people don't have this kind of money and they would just ignore paying the fines.

I think scorecard's idea (post #3) is better:

 

Quote

 

From day 1, anybody caught without helmet, driver of passenger and the bike was immediately confiscated

never to be seen again and no  discussion whatever.

 

 

There are plenty of Farangs  that do not wear helmets and ride the wrong way up roads too.  

1 hour ago, maxcorrigan said:

Easy to understand in a climate like Thailand, who wants to stick a smelly old pot on their head when it's much nicer to feel the breeze in your hair (if you've got any) from a safety point of view not such a good idea, but as long as you can get away with the likes of a 10 press-ups punishment it will continue unabated!

"it's much nicer to feel the breeze in your hair (if you've got any) from a safety point of view not such a good idea"

 

I agree with this 100%.

 

I noticed that a lot of Thai 'bike riders were wearing helmets in the various 'clips' in the video, and that reflects my experience.  i.e. Far more Thais are wearing helmets nowadays than a few years ago.  Although it probably depends on where you live.