Bangkok: Wearing helmets mandatory for both drivers and passengers

[webfact]

Wearing helmets mandatory for both drivers and passengers

 

 

BANGKOK, 27 September 2018 (NNT) - Traffic police have been instructed to enforce traffic regulations rigorously across Bangkok to ensure motorcycle drivers and their passengers wear helmets while on the road. 

Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol Maj Gen Jirapat Phumchit, said anyone found breaking the law will be fined on the spot. 

The Deputy Commissioner added the goal is to have every driver and passenger follow the law by wearing helmets at all times. 

He also claimed that 60% of road injuries and deaths were related to motorcycles, insisting that police are more concerned about road safety than collecting fines.

 

-- nnt 2018-09-27

[PatOngo]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

BANGKOK, 27 September 2018 (NNT) - Traffic police have been instructed to enforce traffic regulations rigorously across Bangkok

Across Bangkok? The majority of the population live outside BKK....or don't they count?

[KhunBENQ]

Just now, PatOngo said:

Across Bangkok? The majority of the population live outside BKK....or don't they count?

Bangkok only and an absolute novelty

[darksidedog]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

insisting that police are more concerned about road safety than collecting fines.

That must be a change in strategy then!

Given the law has been in place for years and years, and crackdowns here come and go, I see the cops raking in a load of extra cash for a week or so, then the public outcry will see the crackdown withdrawn. TIT after all.

[kannot]

should be mandatory to have a brain inside the helmet  too

[Wiggy]

5 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

That must be a change in strategy then!

Given the law has been in place for years and years, and crackdowns here come and go, I see the cops raking in a load of extra cash for a week or so, then the public outcry will see the crackdown withdrawn. TIT after all.

It's the perfect strategy though; if everyone wore a helmet then there would be no money for the BIB. They don't want people to abide by the law as it affects their income. Hence the occasional crackdown and not permanent enforcement. Kaa-ching! ????????????

[Wiggy]

2 minutes ago, kannot said:

should be mandatory to have a brain inside the helmet  too

The impossible they can do at once; miracles take a little longer.

[Thian]

18 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Across Bangkok? The majority of the population live outside BKK....or don't they count?

There's only 1 big apple....

 

 

[Thian]

Wearing a helmet is 1 thing but it has to be locked as well and those helmets for under 1000 baht are of inferiour quality, they are not allowed in the EU....for safety reasons.

 

A good helmet costs around 20-30.000 baht in Thailand...it costs half of that in the EU online.

[marko kok prong]

So the rest of the country it does not matter.

[marcusarelus]

A lot of Thai kids have head lice (seen in school) this new rule should be fun. 

[ezzra]

Pity the police with so many rules and laws to enforce both new and old not really sure where to start from, no wonder why they often put their hands out for a bit of encouragements...

[janclaes47]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

BANGKOK, 27 September 2018 (NNT) - Traffic police have been instructed to enforce traffic regulations rigorously across Bangkok to ensure motorcycle drivers and their passengers wear helmets while on the road. 

 

That's not a bad idea, roughly 22 years after it became a law

[PremiumLane]

1 hour ago, Wiggy said:

It's the perfect strategy though; if everyone wore a helmet then there would be no money for the BIB. They don't want people to abide by the law as it affects their income. Hence the occasional crackdown and not permanent enforcement. Kaa-ching! ????????????

actually I am seeing more and more enforcement of this rule. I agree, it used to be the occasional crackdown, but I think becoming number 1 in road deaths has embarrassed some people to taking action.

 

I ride around Bangkok a lot, and over the past few months have seen regular gangs of cops at some of the major junctions pulling everyone who hasn't got a helmet. 

[Wiggy]

27 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

actually I am seeing more and more enforcement of this rule. I agree, it used to be the occasional crackdown, but I think becoming number 1 in road deaths has embarrassed some people to taking action.

 

I ride around Bangkok a lot, and over the past few months have seen regular gangs of cops at some of the major junctions pulling everyone who hasn't got a helmet. 

That's good to know. I hope it continues. 

[AGareth2]

Christmas is coming early for the boys

[smedly]

1 hour ago, Thian said:

A good helmet costs around 20-30.000 baht in Thailand...it costs half of that in the EU online.

sorry but you are wrong, there are many quality helmets here in Thailand in the 2-3k price bracket, they are tested to Western Standards and in some cases better than some of the expensive brand imports.

 

Problem with the OP is that the typical crappy plastic helmet supplied by MB taxi drivers offer no protection at all, it is also worth noting that a good helmet will protect you to an extent but hit anything solid above 30kmh and your chance of survival is minimal, same goes for gear, they are designed to protect from a 4ft drop to the road from the seat and gear protects against road rash - hit anything solid and it doesn't matter what you are wearing unless it is a car.

 

Imagine this - put on the best gear you can buy and jump from a 2nd floor balcony head first - see how you survive, better still drop onto a wall from the same height and see how that goes, on impact you will be travelling at about 35-40kmph (less than 30mph.

 

Very few fatal MB accidents in Thailand would have had a different outcome if the person had been geared.  

 

This helmet issue from the OP is either total lack of understanding or they need more tea money or a mixture of both

 

Also putting on the provided headgear from a MB taxi driver is not only poor quality but also filthy 

[Lupatria]

As long as the babies in one arm and the other hand on the throttle is OK...

[DoctorG]

They are usually referred to as riders not drivers but that aside, should we start a pool on how long this particular crackdown will last?

[Jonmarleesco]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol Maj Gen Jirapat Phumchit, said anyone found breaking the law will be fined on the spot. 

Will that include the BiB who are ignoring those breaking the law?

[Esso49]

3 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Across Bangkok? The majority of the population live outside BKK....or don't they count?

Outside of BKK they are just considered worthless serfs , by order of the Elite.

[mercman24]

I HAD that with the BANKS  *sorry  different province,* i am talking Bangkok/Pattaya* i didnt see a border though ha ha

[marcusarelus]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

sorry but you are wrong, there are many quality helmets here in Thailand in the 2-3k price bracket, they are tested to Western Standards and in some cases better than some of the expensive brand imports.

 

Problem with the OP is that the typical crappy plastic helmet supplied by MB taxi drivers offer no protection at all, it is also worth noting that a good helmet will protect you to an extent but hit anything solid above 30kmh and your chance of survival is minimal, same goes for gear, they are designed to protect from a 4ft drop to the road from the seat and gear protects against road rash - hit anything solid and it doesn't matter what you are wearing unless it is a car.

 

Imagine this - put on the best gear you can buy and jump from a 2nd floor balcony head first - see how you survive, better still drop onto a wall from the same height and see how that goes, on impact you will be travelling at about 35-40kmph (less than 30mph.

 

Very few fatal MB accidents in Thailand would have had a different outcome if the person had been geared.  

 

This helmet issue from the OP is either total lack of understanding or they need more tea money or a mixture of both

 

Also putting on the provided headgear from a MB taxi driver is not only poor quality but also filthy 

It is a home for lice.

[Redline]

Let’s see ????

[Searat7]

Motorcycle taxi drivers in Bangkok rarely offer helmets to their passengers

[Surasak]

Obviously no one lives out side Bangkok. Or is this a selective ruling?

[The manic]

5 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

A lot of Thai kids have head lice (seen in school) this new rule should be fun. 

Headlice in schools is an international issue not uniquely Thai

 

[blackhorse]

Wearing a helmet is 1 thing but it has to be locked as well and those helmets for under 1000 baht are of inferiour quality, they are not allowed in the EU....for safety reasons.
 
A good helmet costs around 20-30.000 baht in Thailand...it costs half of that in the EU online.

Still better than scraping your bare skull.

[Jonnapat]

6 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Across Bangkok? The majority of the population live outside BKK....or don't they count?

You're right, they do only think about Bangkok, for most things in fact.

[Elkski]

Why not fine motor taxis if they carry a helmetless rider?   I hope I can someday see the lines in front these school kids all holding helmets.   Got to start somewhere.