Bangkok: Limit motorcycles to 50 kmph and start training in the kindergarten

[webfact]

Bangkok: Limit motorcycles to 50 kmph and start training in the kindergarten

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Plans have been announced to limit the speed of motorcycles to just 50 kilometers per hour in Bangkok.

 

This came after it was revealed that a staggering near 99% of fatalities from road accidents in the capital last year involved motorcycles.

 

Also training in motorcycle usage and awareness should start in the kindergarten.

 

The proposed new speed limits are among a swathe of measures being considered by Pornthep Siriwanarangsan's committee at the Bangkok Council. 

 

The committee is looking into how to limit the road death and injury toll in Bangkok and is making recommendations.

 

The committee heard on Wednesday that there were 621 deaths in road accidents in Bangkok last year amounting to about two per day.

 

Of these 98.71% involved motorcycles.

 

It was proposed that motorcycles be limited to 50 kmph, cars to 80 kmph, trucks over 1,200 kilograms 60 kmph and tow trucks 45 kmph. 

 

Extra CCTV cameras designed to catch people speeding should be installed. 

 

Other ideas proposed included improvements to how the injured are taken to hospital, installation of more CCTV enforcement cameras, changes to roads to enhance safety and training in schools about motorcycle use from the kindergarten up. 

 

The proposals met with approval from the committee and have been forwarded to higher level decision makers for consideration. 

 

Thaivisa notes that the metropolitan area of Bangkok has one of the lowest fatal accident rates of any of the provinces in Thailand. A couple of years ago it was listed as just the third worst for fatalities in the country.

 

The WHO (Thailand) site says that a blanket 80 kmph speed limit already exists in Bangkok and other urban areas but this is one of the highest in the world, notes Thaivisa. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-05-03

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[Thaiwrath]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

Also training in motorcycle usage and awareness should start in the kindergarten.

Wearing a helmet would be a good thing to start teaching at such a young age, pillion passengers too !

[Wiggy]

It won't happen. Next.

[VocalNeal]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

Also training in motorcycle usage and awareness should start in the kindergarten.

They have boy scouts classes in schools every week. Why not make cycling proficiency a course and a scout badge. 

[tifino]

Learn younger... and there will be even more even younger ones killing themselves and their even younger dinking passengers.

 

50k in the gutter is still pretty dangerous...

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2019 by tifino

[Dmaxdan]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

Also training in motorcycle usage and awareness should start in the kindergarten.

Who the hell is going to train the kids?  Thais?  Yep, that'll work for sure....not!

[shady86]

The problem is not speeding but cutting across lanes, illegal u-turns, going against the traffic and running through red lights. Those idiots would want to take every opportunity to shave off a min or 2 by skipping the red lights. 

 

I had countless experience of nearly hitting these idiots and hope one day they actually got hit and learn from it.

 

Don't need to waste funds to educate brainless idiots and no sympathy at all for those killed because of their own stupidity.

Edited May 3, 2019 by shady86

[Happy Grumpy]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Limit motorcycles to 50 kmph

 

Is that when driving the wrong way down the road, or both?

[seajae]

simple thing would be to get the police out on the roads as in the west  but that would mean leaving their air conditioned offices plus they have those stupid trucks and not cars or decent road bikes as in the west as well. With a police presence pulling over riders/drivers breaking the law we would see results but the police simply dont want to do their jobs. Even the ones at intersections refuse to pull over anyone going through red lights etc, they are a total joke and we will not see anything happen here, just more talk

[unamazedloso]

Stupid!!... ALL traffic should hover around the same speed. Its the difference in speed that creates a lot of accidents. Scooters are slow and cars are fast so most people carelessly feel comfortable pulling to the right then darting through lanes to a U-turn spot being an example. I would never do that. Its suicide. If you cant travel the speed of the traffic you shouldn't be on the road. I say better faster bikes and no stupid old careless ladies should be allowed to ride and the same for any stupid teen that likes to take mirrors off and such.

Scooters in Thailand are not seen as vehicles by it users and more like a way to haul a fat ass around super slow with nothing much to do instead of walking. Think about it!

[RotBenz8888]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Also training in motorcycle usage and awareness should start in the kindergarten

They start earlier than that, I young infants with parents riding motorbike everyday.

[ThaiBunny]

1 minute ago, RotBenz8888 said:

They start earlier than that, I young infants with parents riding motorbike everyday.

Kid1, Dad, Kid2, Kid3, Mum - Standard Operating Procedure in my neighbourhood

[RotBenz8888]

11 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

Kid1, Dad, Kid2, Kid3, Mum - Standard Operating Procedure in my neighbourhood

Dad to kids: "see how easy it is, just pretend you are alone on the streets and go!"

[ezzra]

Whoever came up with that idea had too much cheap thai whisky the night before...Sure... it will work if they have like thousands more of policemen to put on every road in BKK to try to control like 10 millions motorcycles...

 

[Dexlowe]

But you need to nullify the "Me Thai" attitude first. They know what they are doing wrong, they just don't believe laws, rules and practices apply to them. Laws are only effective if they are used and hurt.

[Youlike]

10 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Whoever came up with that idea had too much cheap thai whisky the night before...Sure... it will work if they have like thousands more of policemen to put on every road in BKK to try to control like 10 millions motorcycles...

 

Thai will only work if there's a bonus ahead...so give the policemen a 100 baht bonus for every racing motocy they can fine...also for mototaxi's who drive against traffic and minivans who cut everyone off all the time.

[LennyW]

This is long overdue, and if done correctly this could make a difference......but it's a big if!

 

Heres a few other pointers to help.......

 

No Thais allowed to drive anything other than a Honda wave 110

Removal of mirrors - 10,000 baht fine

Noisy exhaust - 10,000 baht fine and motorcycle crushed

Talking on the phone while driving - 10,000 baht fine

Texting on the phone while driving - 10,000 baht fine and phone crushed

Having something in the front basket that obscures the headlight - 10,000 baht fine

Having helmet in the front basket instead of on the head - 10,000 baht fine

Having helmet fall out of the front basket and denting the following car - 10,000 baht fine and motorcycle crushed

Carrying TV's, washing machines, fridge freezers on the motorcycle, 6m lengths of plastic pipe - no fine - death penalty

 

Ad infinitum ......

 

 

[bluesofa]

52 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

They have boy scouts classes in schools every week. Why not make cycling proficiency a course and a scout badge. 

A very good idea.

Unfortunately if it's run the same as the rest of the school, nobody will fail, no matter how little they understand.

 

[smedly]

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

The committee heard on Wednesday that there were 621 deaths in road accidents in Bangkok last year amounting to about two per day.

 

Of these 98.71% involved motorcycles.

 

It was proposed that motorcycles be limited to 50 kmph, cars to 80 kmph, trucks over 1,200 kilograms 60 kmph and tow trucks 45 kmph. 

and the majority of these accidents were caused by speeding cars - the cars were unlikely to receive fatal injuries so are excluded from any speed limits 

 

Perhaps the woodentops coming up with this garbage should be going back to kindergarten and getting themselves an actual education

[VocalNeal]

7 minutes ago, LennyW said:

and if done correctly this could make a difference

Even if implemented it won't make any difference. 

 

The big danger on roads is the vastly different speeds of road users. The majority of motorcycles rarely travel at more than 60 kph (if that) along with the rest of the traffic. 

 

The worst thing we want as car drivers is to be faced with a road full of bikes all obediently doing 50 kph. The traffic with grind to a halt. This is why bikes are not allowed on overpasses and bridges with no shoulder. 

 

Bikes are an easy target that is all because nobody really cares about them. Hi-so's already complain that they get in the way.

 

 

[Wiggy]

18 minutes ago, LennyW said:

This is long overdue, and if done correctly this could make a difference......but it's a big if!

 

Heres a few other pointers to help.......

 

No Thais allowed to drive anything other than a Honda wave 110

Removal of mirrors - 10,000 baht fine

Noisy exhaust - 10,000 baht fine and motorcycle crushed

Talking on the phone while driving - 10,000 baht fine

Texting on the phone while driving - 10,000 baht fine and phone crushed

Having something in the front basket that obscures the headlight - 10,000 baht fine

Having helmet in the front basket instead of on the head - 10,000 baht fine

Having helmet fall out of the front basket and denting the following car - 10,000 baht fine and motorcycle crushed

Carrying TV's, washing machines, fridge freezers on the motorcycle, 6m lengths of plastic pipe - no fine - death penalty

 

Ad infinitum ......

 

 

All well and good until the policeman says (and he will), "Now listen, sonny, for texting on the phone whilst driving it's a 10,000 baht fine and your phone crushed, OR give me 5,000 (or any amount he sees fit) and you can go on your way doing the same thing."

 

And, we're back to square one.

[johng]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

They have boy scouts classes in schools every week. Why not make cycling proficiency a course and a scout badge. 

I don't think they  do the "proficiency" badges here ??

 

they certainly don't sing the "gin gan goo"  song  ????  around a camp fire.

[essox essox]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

They have boy scouts classes in schools every week. Why not make cycling proficiency a course and a scout badge. 

they used to have this in uk I got one....but they are so far behind every other country here they NOT follow what other countries do in respect to teaching/learning young kids what to do.

How many kids does one see riding bycycles and learning what to do on roads here??

Not many in my opinion

[essox essox]

20 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

All well and good until the policeman says (and he will), "Now listen, sonny, for texting on the phone whilst driving it's a 10,000 baht fine and your phone crushed, OR give me 5,000 (or any amount he sees fit) and you can go on your way doing the same thing."

 

And, we're back to square one.

your comment re removal of mirrors..... I have seen BRAND new bikes for sale and on the road WITHOUT mirrors, as a friend of mine said to me one day "they are optional extras.

I was taught that I SHOULD KNOW WHAT IS BEHIND ME when driving hence I use my mirrors a lot when driving my pickup, same goes for MOTORBIKES/SCOOTERS

[toofarnorth]

40 minutes ago, LennyW said:

This is long overdue, and if done correctly this could make a difference......but it's a big if!

 

Heres a few other pointers to help.......

 

No Thais allowed to drive anything other than a Honda wave 110

Removal of mirrors - 10,000 baht fine

Noisy exhaust - 10,000 baht fine and motorcycle crushed

Talking on the phone while driving - 10,000 baht fine

Texting on the phone while driving - 10,000 baht fine and phone crushed

Having something in the front basket that obscures the headlight - 10,000 baht fine

Having helmet in the front basket instead of on the head - 10,000 baht fine

Having helmet fall out of the front basket and denting the following car - 10,000 baht fine and motorcycle crushed

Carrying TV's, washing machines, fridge freezers on the motorcycle, 6m lengths of plastic pipe - no fine - death penalty

 

Ad infinitum ......

 

 

Agree but one problem you mentioned is object in the front basket , I have told 'er indoors , when she goes out at night to the market she will not be seen if front basket full , I think this is design problem . Oh and telling folk to keep to 50 kmph , Lordy Lordy what is kmph ?

[johng]

14 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

The worst thing we want as car drivers is to be faced with a road full of bikes all obediently doing 50 kph. The traffic with grind to a halt. This is why bikes are not allowed on overpasses and bridges with no shoulder. 

Well why not just  limit everyone to 50KPH   Hi-So's  included  ?  who/how will they enforce it ?

its a silly idea that can never work..the speed limits aren't obeyed as it is  let alone have  2 sets of speed limits.

Bikes should be allowed on all the roads,bridges,over and underpasses etc..but as is the case in other countries, for motorway driving the bike has to be capable of achieving the "motorway speed"  most 125 CC motorbikes can achieve  120KPH  which is the "top speed" for Thai motorways...getting rid of ( or redesign)  the  extremely dangerous U-turns would bring better results IMHO

[toenail]

Question: Is common sense a natural instinct? or is created within ones culture?- or both?

Today I see a young mother holding her 10-11month old baby in front of her as she drove her motorcycle with one hand while the other hand held up an umbrella to protect them from the sun. No helmets were worn. I stood there thinking, “<deleted>”??

Edited May 3, 2019 by toenail

[toofarnorth]

1 minute ago, essox essox said:

your comment re removal of mirrors..... I have seen BRAND new bikes for sale and on the road WITHOUT mirrors, as a friend of mine said to me one day "they are optional extras.

I was taught that I SHOULD KNOW WHAT IS BEHIND ME when driving hence I use my mirrors a lot when driving my pickup, same goes for MOTORBIKES/SCOOTERS

I failed my bike test first time in '63 ( Ariel Colt 200cc ), I had to do a right turn and having a bar end mirror looked in that . Examiner hiding along the way said I should of looked over my shoulder . I wonder if that still applies .

[johng]

3 minutes ago, toenail said:

holding her 10-11month old baby in front of her as she drove her motorcycle with one hand while the other hand held up an umbrella

how did she steer and operate the throttle ?  ( three hands ? )

[johng]

4 minutes ago, toofarnorth said:

I wonder if that still applies .

Yes I failed on exactly that,   failure to do the "life saver"  I was 16 at the time and thought

I knew it all   but didn't even know they expected a look over the shoulder ????

Mirror,Signal,Life saver,Manoeuvrer 

Now  I even  do it in the car  as bikes seem to like "hiding" in the blind spots.