British tourists warned against hiring motorcycles and quad bikes in Thailand

 

Image: File photo

 

British tourists have been warned against hiring motorcycles and quad bikes in Thailand and other destinations popular with holidaymakers.

 

The warning comes following a spate of accidents involving Brits on motorcycles or quad bikes which resulted in death or serious industry.

 

The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said that 36 quad bike accidents and 7 moped accidents involving British tourists last year, although many more are likely to have gone unreported.

 

Some of accidents highlighted by Abta involved British national in Thailand, where a motorcycle can be hired to inexperienced riders for as little as a few hundred baht per day.

 

In March, Phillip Loates, 26, from Essex was killed when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a lorry in Chiang Mai.

 

Also in March, Brit Harry Cross suffered life changing injuries when he collided with a sugar cane truck in Kanchanaburi.

 

Uninsured Mr Cross had been riding his Yamaha motorcycle to Kanchanaburi immigration office when he collided with the truck.

 

Mr Cross, who was wearing a helmet and safety gear, suffered catastrophic injuries, including his right leg being degloved, after being dragged by the truck for more than 15 metres.

 

Mr Cross, 29 from London, was rushed to hospital where doctors discovered he had also suffered a shattered pelvis, multiple breaks to his leg and three broken ribs, in addition to the degloved leg.

 

Due to the severity of his injuries, Mr Cross was rushed into surgery but doctors were unable to save his leg and it had to be amputated above the knee.

 

A third accident in March last year, this time in Hua Hin, resulted in Brit Mark Haley, 56, being placed in an induced coma after suffering fractures to his spine and pelvis, as well as broken ribs and a collapsed right lung after he was hit from behind by a car at the u-turn on Phetkasem Road opposite the entrance to Palm Hills.

 

In May, a pregnant British woman was killed while riding a motorcycle in Phuket.

 

Speaking to the Guardian: Nikki White, Abta’s director of destinations and sustainability, said: “Every year people suffer serious injuries after hiring mopeds or quad bikes while on holiday. Many have little experience of using these vehicles and are also unfamiliar with the local roads and driving standards.

 

“It’s so easy when you’re relaxing on holiday to do things you wouldn’t dream of doing back home; but you are putting yourself at risk of serious injury if you hire these vehicles, and on top of that, many travel insurance policies won’t cover such activities.”

 

Abta’s advice to Brits in Thailand is that anyone with limited experience should think twice before hiring a motorcycle and quad bikes should only be used in supervised off road conditions. It added that many standard travel insurance policies do not cover accidents involving quad bikes.

 

Data released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office last year revealed that road traffic accidents involving motorcycles were one of the biggest causes of death of Brits in Thailand.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-08-05

I have been riding happily and relatively safely for nearly thirty years in Thailand. But I would definitely warn any tourists against riding here if they don't have experience. If the do have experience think at least twice about it. 

Its not just the English who need to be warned. Thailand's roads are officially the most dangerous in the world. It is no place for an inexperienced rider, regardless of where they come from. Were it not for the horrible profit renters are making, something would have been done to stop people without a valid license being able to do it. This carnage is set to continue.

Quote

death of serious industry

Maybe that should read - death or serious injury.

 

Well, there's the danger to life and limb, but there's also the danger to finances if the rider is unlicensed and uninsured for motorcycle riding, which so many seem to be. 

 

I've always ridden motorcycles, and I ride a Honda Wave when I'm here – very conservatively, and I tend to meander through back lanes rather than freeways whenever I can. Of course, accidents can happen anywhere, I was back home in Australia when a back wheel came off a car's axle and went bouncing across several lanes of traffic, before ending up on the roof of a car in a tech college car park. Just that such a random event is much more likely to happen here. 

Any time at DMK or Swampi, you can see some westerner daily on crutches or bandaged up and guess how they hurt themselves ?  It is a convenient mode of transport, but it should be used sparingly.  

It sounds like they’re just renting these vehicles, not hiring people to drive them around.

What can you do when part of having the holiday of the lifetime for many, is engaging in risky touristy activities of all sorts, on land, air and on water, all you can really do is warn people, the rest is up to them to heed or not...

I usually go to town once a month and that is one time to many. During these 52 km. trips, my wife drives and I count the wrong way wildlife. Not the drivers, just the irresponsible vehicles. Most of these resupply missions will see on average 12 animals traveling in the opposite direction for which the lane was intended.  They are often spotted on less traveled rural roads, city streets, the major highway or even the sidewalks.  Thais do like to swim upstream. And much like the Salmon, they often suffer the same fate...

 

given the stats, the statement is a no brainer. Even if you're the most experienced rider in the world you still have no control over the 'other guy'.

'4-wheels-and-a-roof' should be the bare minimum standard when hiring anything here, along with seat belts, licence and adequate insurance to drive.

Killing tourists is indeed a serious industry?☠️

Any time at DMK or Swampi, you can see some westerner daily on crutches or bandaged up and guess how they hurt themselves ?  It is a convenient mode of transport, but it should be used sparingly.  

You should come to Pai.

1 hour ago, missoura said:

Most of these resupply missions will see on average 12 animals traveling in the opposite direction for which the lane was intended. 

I don't see the issue with this. They always drive very slowly and are very aware of the oncoming traffic.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

British tourists warned against hiring motorcycles and quad bikes in Thailand

And now, let´s go over to something that regards all people that comes to Thailand. 

ATTENTION THAI VISA.COM !

 

would you like to correct the TYPO in the second Par Of your story ?

 

”Serious INDUSTRY,  should read, Serious INJURY.”

 

 

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Its not just the English who need to be warned.

English?

The problem with wrong way riding is it cuts off an avenue for drivers escaping situations on the main road like people turning into your lane from the right at U turns and crossroads, and drivers only look one way if at all when pulling out of junctions, so don’t expect wrong way approaching.

 

Also most drivers here drift indiscriminately from lane to lane including the shoulder, especially as they play with their phones, chat to passengers, or eat whilst driving. 

I apologize but, as a native English language speaker, can someone define a “degloved” leg?

I was wondering the same thing - degloved?

 

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said that 36 quad bike accidents and 7 moped accidents

I've never seen a "quad bike" on the roads.

3 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Any time at DMK or Swampi, you can see some westerner daily on crutches or bandaged up and guess how they hurt themselves ?  It is a convenient mode of transport, but it should be used sparingly.  

Correct, I always avoid motorbikes (and motorbike taxis) at all costs. It usually costs about $1 extra to take a taxi, not worth the risk.

Edited August 5, 20187 yr by Andrew65

12 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

I've never seen a "quad bike" on the roads.

Loads of them are seen every day on the roads in Chiang Mai, just drive down the Mesa Valley towards to Samoeng and you'll see plenty.

18 minutes ago, Foxy52 said:

I was wondering the same thing - degloved?

 

Separating flesh from bone as in taking a pair off.

 

1 hour ago, Torrens54 said:

ATTENTION THAI VISA.COM !

 

would you like to correct the TYPO in the second Par Of your story ?

 

”Serious INDUSTRY,  should read, Serious INJURY.”

 

 

What's a par??

14 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

I've never seen a "quad bike" on the roads.

I see them daily.

Driving and or riding a bike in Thailand is probably the most risky and dangerous thing you can do considering what the Thais are like.. Coming up at you in the wrong way of direction and these polluting buses swinging left and right of the road the same applies to the general motorists, they simply can’t stay in line and drive straight, ignoring mirrors etc just to mention a few ..??‍♂️

Whilst riding my scooter I always look for blind spots since they can come from every way they can, they’re also slow and dangerous, sleeping on the wheels and on their scooter with the phone in their hands..Just yesterday I had a near miss accident whilst driving down the road this woman decided to drive her scooter across the street without looking or caring who else is on the road, luckily I missed her but it wasn’t the first time !

As for the British,  they really should pay more attention and keep’the eyes rolling 360 degrees before attempting to make a turn, it’s a wild ni for out there ! Please stay alert !

3 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

Loads of them are seen every day on the roads in Chiang Mai, just drive down the Mesa Valley towards to Samoeng and you'll see plenty.

 

1 minute ago, evadgib said:

I see them daily.

Ok, I thought they were illegal to use on the streets.

Just now, Vacuum said:

 

Ok, I thought they were illegal to use on the streets.

A minor concern.

hmmmm.....maybe something that should have been done 10 years ago