Triple motorcycle tragedy: Mother and twins die in Pathum Thani - father grievous in hospital

[webfact]

Picture: Sanook

 

Klong Sip Song police in Pathum Thani north of the Thai capital Bangkok were called to the scene of an accident in which a motorcycle carrying four members of one family collided with a 22 wheel truck trailer.

 

Dead at the scene was a Myanmar woman called Momo and her three year old twins - a girl called Nam Fon and a boy named Phayu, reported Sanook. 

 

Grievously injured at the scene was their father, 44 year old Prasan, who had been riding the Honda Click. 

 

The accident happened on the Lam Lukka Road as the Highways Department truck was turning into a site, according to a witness. 

 

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[JCP108]

Very sad. How about a rule (that is enforced) that limits the number of people on one motorcycle to no more than two?

[richard_smith237]

15 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

Very sad. How about a rule (that is enforced) that limits the number of people on one motorcycle to no more than two?

 

That rule exists, as does the helmet rule. 

 

What doesn’t exist is enforcement - the Police and those in positions of decision making power enable the continued road deaths with an absence of enforcement. 

 

It seems ‘additional tolerance’ is afforded to the poor as they lack alternatives for transport and don’t have money to pay for fines for not wearing a helmet - its almost as if people in positions of decision making power don’t care - well, not almost, they just don’t. 

 

 

[VocalNeal]

29 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

Very sad. How about a rule (that is enforced) that limits the number of people on one motorcycle to no more than two?

How about improving the wages of the working class so they can afford a car? 

Edited November 13, 2021 by VocalNeal

[JCP108]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

That rule exists, as does the helmet rule. 

 

What doesn’t exist is enforcement - the Police and those in positions of decision making power enable the continued road deaths with an absence of enforcement. 

 

It seems ‘additional tolerance’ is afforded to the poor as they lack alternatives for transport and don’t have money to pay for fines for not wearing a helmet - its almost as if people in positions of decision making power don’t care - well, not almost, they just don’t. 

 

 

They don't care. I get it that the poor have fewer transportation options. But, it's more about their not having money for fines. It's always about money, never about public safety. But, if laws are enforced, not many actually pay fines. So, it doesn't harm them much. I'm 53 and have been riding motorcycles since I was 16. You know how many times I have put more than one extra person on my bike? Zero. How many of my friends do I know who have ever done that? Zero. Because it's stupid and we believe in the U.S. it would be enforced. So, counting me and my rider friends, we have combined paid exactly zero dollars in fines ever. 

[JCP108]

1 minute ago, VocalNeal said:

How about improving the wages of the working class so they can afford a car? 

I'm for that. However, cars in Thailand aren't a lot safer than bikes and for the same reasons: Absolutely no enforcement of road safety laws. It's Mad Max rules. If you can do it, it's legal. 

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

They don't care. I get it that the poor have fewer transportation options. But, it's more about their not having money for fines. It's always about money, never about public safety. But, if laws are enforced, not many actually pay fines. So, it doesn't harm them much. I'm 53 and have been riding motorcycles since I was 16. You know how many times I have put more than one extra person on my bike? Zero. How many of my friends do I know who have ever done that? Zero.

Because it's stupid and we believe in the U.S. it would be enforced. So, counting me and my rider friends, we have combined paid exactly zero dollars in fines ever. 

Because you don’t need to put more than one person on your bike. 

 

I’m not justifying the actions of the poor who have limited transport options, but I can understand how or why more than two on a motorcycle has become the norm and why it's tolerated. 

 

Ultimately its the same reason a pickup can be crammed full of migrant workers and no one cares - the poor don’t have money, so they don’t matter - its almost like a caste system, they are considered ‘untouchables’ by those higher up the socio-economic food chain who simply do not care for or of anything they consider below them. 

 

 

 

 

[mahtin]

The accident happened on the Lam Lukka Road as the Highways Department truck was turning into a site, according to a witness. 

 

Can't comment, not a witness, but as a victim of large vehicle forces priority over bike I sympathise. (Broken shoulder only, wearing helmet.)

 

RIP

[sniggie]

40 minutes ago, mahtin said:

The accident happened on the Lam Lukka Road as the Highways Department truck was turning into a site, according to a witness. 

 

Can't comment, not a witness, but as a victim of large vehicle forces priority over bike I sympathise. (Broken shoulder only, wearing helmet.)

 

RIP

Happened to me in the UK. Lorry turned in front of me. Got most of the speed off but not all of it.  Persuaded to get the police to pursue a case of without due care but eventually the magistrates threw the case out. The lorry driver's union provided a barrister.  Infuriating. I believed then, as I do now, that any car or lorry driver who says that they didn't see a motorbike when turning should automatically be convicted and suffer a disqualification.

 

At least the police cared. It's doubtful if the lorry driver in this case will face any consequenses.  So sad for the family concerned. Yes, some posters will question the motorcycle rider's actions. Too many passengers, probably limited maintenance (brakes) etc. but the lorry driver should have damned well looked.

[Asquith Production]

4 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

How about improving the wages of the working class so they can afford a car? 

Improving wages would be good but that  dosent mean they would go out and buy a car over a scooter/motorcycle. The thing that needs improving is the testing and danger awareness along with strict enforcement.

[apetryxx]

Enforcement, enforcement & enforcement! How infinitely stupid is it to race around with your kids on a motor scooter, no helmets but with a useless cotton mask on your face. It’s patently insane.

[PaDavid]

Are there any statistics which show the number of people killed in accidents involving HGVs?
 

It doesn’t matter how well protected a motorcyclist and passengers are, they don’t stand a chance when up against a poorly driven, badly serviced and overloaded monster - especially on Thailand’s poorly maintained roads. 
 

I feel really sorry for this family.

[Percy P]

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

That rule exists, as does the helmet rule. 

 

What doesn’t exist is enforcement - the Police and those in positions of decision making power enable the continued road deaths with an absence of enforcement. 

 

It seems ‘additional tolerance’ is afforded to the poor as they lack alternatives for transport and don’t have money to pay for fines for not wearing a helmet - its almost as if people in positions of decision making power don’t care - well, not almost, they just don’t. 

 

 

Quiet correct.I'm a very experienced motor cyclist . It send shivers through me when I see  a number of children  and adults on a mother cycle ,and the police do nothing about it. It's a tragedy .The Government is assisting people to commit suicide built taking drastic action.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, JCP108 said:

Very sad. How about a rule (that is enforced) that limits the number of people on one motorcycle to no more than two?

The law is the law, the rules are clear... but that means nothing in Thailand.

[malibukid]

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Because you don’t need to put more than one person on your bike. 

 

I’m not justifying the actions of the poor who have limited transport options, but I can understand how or why more than two on a motorcycle has become the norm and why it's tolerated. 

 

Ultimately its the same reason a pickup can be crammed full of migrant workers and no one cares - the poor don’t have money, so they don’t matter - its almost like a caste system, they are considered ‘untouchables’ by those higher up the socio-economic food chain who simply do not care for or of anything they consider below them. 

 

 

 

 

fourth world country, life is cheap.

[malibukid]

45 minutes ago, apetryxx said:

Enforcement, enforcement & enforcement! How infinitely stupid is it to race around with your kids on a motor scooter, no helmets but with a useless cotton mask on your face. It’s patently insane.

in America we call it child endangerment

[raccos21]

[Bernietravelling]

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

What doesn’t exist is enforcement - the Police and those in positions of decision making power enable the continued road deaths with an absence of enforcement. 

I would call this a woke-style, total distortion of cause and effect !

 

There is not only a law, there is also common understanding.

 

And here we have:

A father, blatantly neglecting the law and the dangers involved.

Crashing in a truck, because he did not drive in defensive style.

 

And you blame the Police? Really? 

[IvorBiggun2]

This picture I took outside Buriram a few years back.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, JCP108 said:

Very sad. How about a rule (that is enforced) that limits the number of people on one motorcycle to no more than two?

And how about also enforcing the law that does not allow overtaking on the inside in the circumstances that appear to have happened in this case.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

How about improving the wages of the working class so they can afford a car? 

Millions of Thailand's working class do buy cars, they're not all four-up on bikes.  Are you advocating that everyone is given enough money to buy a car?

[JustAnotherHun]

Yes, very sad. But 4 people on a motorbike? Crazy!

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, JCP108 said:

But, if laws are enforced, not many actually pay fines. So, it doesn't harm them much.

Really?  So when the laws are enforced what is the penalty for these offenders?   You don't really think that they are just released with no fine every time, do you? 

[Russell17au]

I would bet that the father tried to pass the truck on the lefthand side while it was turning left which even if the truck was going straight ahead it is an offence with a 500B fine for passing on the left of a vehicle but motorbikes continually do it. The biggest problem is that everyone including the police need to be paid a reasonable wage and the police need to be SUPPLIED with the correct equipement to do the job and not have to buy it out of their own pockets and they need to be made to get out on the roads and patrol them and enforce the road laws and forget about these stupid checkpoints. The father was stupid for having the mother and 2 children on the bike at the same time and he was stupid for trying to underpass a turning truck. Now the father has paid a very big price for his stupidity, he has lost his wife and 2 children because of this

[Bobydog]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

That rule exists, as does the helmet rule. 

 

What doesn’t exist is enforcement - the Police and those in positions of decision making power enable the continued road deaths with an absence of enforcement. 

 

It seems ‘additional tolerance’ is afforded to the poor as they lack alternatives for transport and don’t have money to pay for fines for not wearing a helmet - its almost as if people in positions of decision making power don’t care - well, not almost, they just don’t. 

 

 

Something else to lay at feet of the Puppet Government, but I forget, they dont give a rat's analsfinkta about their people.

[dallen52]

6 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

How about improving the wages of the working class so they can afford a car? 

Unlicenced car.

Unlicenced bike.

Same Thai mentality unfortunately.

If 4 on a bike, how many in a car??

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, PaDavid said:

It doesn’t matter how well protected a motorcyclist and passengers are, they don’t stand a chance when up against a poorly driven, badly serviced and overloaded monster - especially on Thailand’s poorly maintained roads. 

You seem to be assuming that the, clearly, unloaded truck involved in this accident was "being poorly driven, was badly serviced, was overloaded" and that "Lam Lu Ka Road is poorly maintained".   What do you base all that on?   Is it not possible that this long vehicle was making a normal left turn into a small side road and the overloaded, poorly driven motorbike tried to drive up the inside of the left-turning truck?

[Liverpool Lou]

45 minutes ago, malibukid said:

fourth world country, life is cheap.

Garbage.

[IvorBiggun2]

35 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

The biggest problem is that everyone including the police need to be paid a reasonable wage and the police need to be SUPPLIED with the correct equipement to do the job and not have to buy it out of their own pockets and they need to be made to get out on the roads and patrol them and enforce the road laws and forget about these stupid checkpoints.

The police are well paid if they did/do their jobs. The police receive 95% of any fine that they issue. The remaining 5% goes to the Department of Land Transport. The 95% received by the police is pooled with other officers  that work back at the station. But being lazy barstools it pays them to take a bribe and split it with no one.

 

Quote

Under the Article 44 order, the Department of Land Transport will get 5 per cent of each traffic fine and pass on the rest of the fine money to traffic police.

 

[Gecko123]

Based on the description in the article, I don't know how people can attribute fault for the collision to the motorcyclist. If the motorcycle was on the road shoulder or in the left-hand lane, and the truck (which was quite long) made a wide left-turn off the road, the truck had a duty to verify that there was no traffic approaching from behind before making his turn.

 

I think the reason why the police take a laissez-faire approach to traffic violations like no helmet and excessive number of passengers is because they fear excessive policing may generate social unrest and erosion of police authority when traffic tickets go unpaid.

 

Calls for higher wages so families can afford to travel more safely are admirable, but I wonder how many forum members would be up in arms over the higher prices for consumer goods which would ensue.

 

I don't think Western-style road enforcement standards can be instituted overnight. Something clearly needs to be done, but I think it's going to have to be incremental change as there are too many socioeconomic factors in play to make all the necessary changes overnight.