Car seats: Traders and parents worried about new law - top doc says make sure you buy a good one

[hotchilli]

5 minutes ago, SuwadeeS said:

Hey Thailand. Then dort complain about the Skype Rock hogh dead toll.

I know, Thailand is tolally learning resistent and in dental.

Never mind.

I tried to read & understand your message, but just got more confused.

[kimamey]

1 hour ago, SuwadeeS said:

Amazing Thailand.

When it comes to traffic safety, Thailand is still stone age.

No wonder, why they are no.1 in traffic dead 

I think they were treated 5th then went to 2nd and may be back to 5th again.  Still with a bit of effort.

 

'To be Number One'

[Kalasin Jo]

Errmm. In Isaan and elsewhere? Babies still 3 or more up on a motocy. Pick ups packed in the back with adults, children and babies. Another law that will not be enforced except, perhaps, in the rich cities.

[rwill]

Kind of a pointless law with so many children on motorbikes anyways.

[hotchilli]

5 minutes ago, NemoH said:

There will be discounts ???????????? 

At the roadside?

[AhFarangJa]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Mum Prarathana, 29, said she has three children, two under 6.

 

She said the law change was a good idea but she would wait and see if the law was actually enforced.

Say no more.

However, I can just picture it now. A police checkpoint, eight adults in the back of a pick-up, five of them are Women holding babies, Six people inside the cab, plus the driver. One woman holding a baby. She gets fined for not using a child seat......

[Pmbkk]

1 hour ago, vandeventer said:

Most Thais I know don't have cars only scooters so should they be worried as these laws come in very fast?

 

No - but they should be worried about the trucks that come in very fast....

[jingjai9]

I have not seen any mention of where the car seats should be placed - front seat or back seat. In the western countries car seats are supposed to be placed in the back seat. If a child is in a car seat on the passenger's side in the front, there is a danger that the child could be smothered by air bags if there is any kind of impact from a collision. 

From what I have observed over the years, most motor vehicles laws are for show. Anyone will tell you the laws in Thailand are enforced arbitrarily in certain places at certain times. How can we think the car seat requirement for children will be any different?

We will not have safe roads in Thailand until vehicles are programmed on tracks or "smart roads" and run by computers, It is easy to change a law, swear you will enforce it with zero tolerance and then lay on the PR; However, it is not so easy to change the road culture in Thailand.

[Dionigi]

33 minutes ago, NemoH said:

Before all of you shout - hurray for safety ... this is an impractical law and again a sign of over regulation by your parent the Government. 
 

I have not seen the details but does children under 6 include infants 1-2 years old? Do you think a 1, 2 or 3 year old will sit still silently in a car seat ? Why not have an alternative option of seat belts for children younger than 5 years in lieu of car seats? Airlines don’t even allow 1-2 year old infants to have their own child seat!! 
 

Also all of us will now need to consider buying 7 seaters car because with this law, children will be treated as adult with car seats. So a family of more than 5 can no longer travel in a 5 seater car.. think about it...

 

An unfortunate consequent, no doubt, will again result in the enrichment for the enforcers of this law... 

Airlines supply extra seat belts that clip onto the main seat belt for infants on the passengers knee

[DUNROAMIN]

Never happen, no brainer, no seatbelts in the rear of cab space picksups, what do motor bikes do?? Can average Thais afford proper child seats at 2 - 10,000 B per seat. Cost of upgrades to vehicles with out anchor points. etc, etc.

[sawadee1947]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

wait and see

The General Motto in Thailand????

[LennyW]

 3 or 4000 for a car seat to protect your child v 30-40,000 for a new phone so you can take selfies....

[timkeen08]

There goes a run on blue PVC tubing, right angle fittings, and rope.

[BTB1977]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

. He helpfully stated that if a family had two kids and needed two seats at 2,000 baht that would be 4,000 baht

Thank God this man is here to guide  the thais in these difficult times. 

[TheGibbo]

Used child car seat @ https://www.bahtsold.com/view/childs-car-seat-446572

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Parents here should be more worried about their kids refusing to use the car seats, after being spoiled rotten for the first few years, and being able to move around a fast moving car like an ape in the forest. That will be the biggest challenge for the people who say they are parents, but refuse to behave like one. 

There is definitely the ‘oh they don’t like it and cry’ mentality towards car seats... so they just end up not being used. 

 

I recall my mother in law (Thai) a few years back suggesting that we take our son out of his car seat because he doesn’t like it !!!.....  (he was crying)... I tried to point out that if he’s crying he’s fine !...  

 

The logic amongst many here is upside-down...  they want to take the child out of the car seat because they don’t like being restrained. Speak to any (most) western parents and they’ll point out how they had to take their child for a drive in the car seat to get them to go to sleep !!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ddbanksy]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Parents here should be more worried about their kids refusing to use the car seats, after being spoiled rotten for the first few years, and being able to move around a fast moving car like an ape in the forest. That will be the biggest challenge for the people who say they are parents, but refuse to behave like one. 

Totally agree with you.

 Had this out with the Wife 25yrs ago with my two step kids 2 & 4 yrs old,i was frowned at and nothing was done!

 Now two grandchildren,i mentioned it again yesterday!

 See what happens!

[kevc]

Few years ago seen a story of a copper who stopped a man on a scooter with his two year old daughter sitting with him. The copper said you can't do that it's not safe and proceeded to tie them together round the waist with a bit of string and sent them on their way. Big photo of beaming copper standing next to them saying caring police avoid accident.

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

Before all of you shout - hurray for safety ... this is an impractical law and again a sign of over regulation by your parent the Government. 

WRONG - your logic is flawed.

 

The simple fact that this creates discussion may make an impact for some and that is a step in the right direction. 

 

IF lawmakers had the idea that ’this law is not going to be suitable for everyone’ then no laws would be put in place. 

 

Yes, there are huge gaps in how this policy can be uniformly applied - We have babies being carried on motorcycles, people in pick-up flat beds etc... but because some are more ‘unsafe’ does not mean that efforts do not need to be taken. 

 

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

I have not seen the details but does children under 6 include infants 1-2 years old? Do you think a 1, 2 or 3 year old will sit still silently in a car seat ?

Yes, ask any Western parent who has had to take their child for a drive to get them to sleep !! (in a car seat) - When children do not know any different why would they not sit perfectly happily. 

 

AND.. IF the children do not sit quietly, so what. The one very point car seats are doing is proving a safety measures which helps avoid the ‘ultimate silence’. 

 

If this is not a popular solution amongst children, who cares ???? Keeping children safe is more important - ALL parents need to be taught this. 

 

 

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

Why not have an alternative option of seat belts for children younger than 5 years in lieu of car seats?

This is why the laws need to be in place, because there are people out there (such as yourself) who fail to understand the issue and ‘don’t know what they don’t know’....   Seatbelts are actually dangerous for smaller children who can slip under them and get their neck caught etc...  

 

A taller child is less likely to slip underwear the seatbelt - There is an alternative Option (its called MiFold) we use it when we travel - but only since or son was 6 years and older. 

Before that we took a car seat with us...  (when going somewhere for any length of time and renting a car).

 

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

Airlines don’t even allow 1-2 year old infants to have their own child seat!! 

WRONG....  When our son was a baby we used to take his FAA approved car seat (Maxi-cost) on the plane all the time. It was perfect for our son to sleep in and we didn’t need to hold him all flight.

 

 

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

Also all of us will now need to consider buying 7 seaters car because with this law, children will be treated as adult with car seats. So a family of more than 5 can no longer travel in a 5 seater car.. think about it...

Thats what happens in civilised nations with far lower road fatality stats...  

 

.... think about it !

 

 

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

An unfortunate consequent, no doubt, will again result in the enrichment for the enforcers of this law... 

I fear so....  But just like the helmet laws... this is a good law.... It needs proper enforcement. 

 

Sadly, only some will heed the advice, some children may even be saved as a direct result of this law. 

But for most, it will be ignored. 

[worldexpress]

The woman quoted in the article probably reflects the general attitude of the local parent drivers: Agree it's a good idea but wait and see to if they can just carry on and avoid the fines somehow. 

 

They don't understand each time the kiddos are in the car, they're playing Russian roulette with the lives of the children.

 

In the US, not putting the children in the seat is unthinkable anymore and equates to child abuse. Ironically, even the idiots that bake their kids in hot cars always have them strapped in in car seats.

 

 

[mrfill]

I can only assume the thinking goes that as it costs less than 2000bt to create a new baby there is no need for an expensive car seat, just make a new baby.

[digger70]

I don't understand the mentality of the people winge about the cost of a  child car seat. But they All got an I Phone and big screen TV's.

Priorities comes to mind. same as Helmets and Seatbelts and no people in a cargo area of a Ute and Follow the Road Rules .

Then Who's gonna enforce the Law/Rules . 5555

[thailand49]

1 hour ago, starky said:

Pedestrian crossings anyone?

Not if you allow vehicles to traffic 80 with no enforcement which means they go over a 100, then some stupid ass put a crosswalk that is like telling people it is OK to walk to the other side during the Daytona 500????

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, NemoH said:

Before all of you shout - hurray for safety ... this is an impractical law and again a sign of over regulation by your parent the Government. 
 

I have not seen the details but does children under 6 include infants 1-2 years old? Do you think a 1, 2 or 3 year old will sit still silently in a car seat ? Why not have an alternative option of seat belts for children younger than 5 years in lieu of car seats? Airlines don’t even allow 1-2 year old infants to have their own child seat!! 
 

Also all of us will now need to consider buying 7 seaters car because with this law, children will be treated as adult with car seats. So a family of more than 5 can no longer travel in a 5 seater car.. think about it...

 

An unfortunate consequent, no doubt, will again result in the enrichment for the enforcers of this law... 

A child 1-2 years old is classed as under 6.

My 2 year old sits quietly and enjoys being in his car seat, and usually goes to sleep.

What do you mean by 'alternative option of seatbelts for children under 5.   A 6 month old baby with his own belt???

So a family of more than 5 can no longer travel in a 5 seater car.. think about it.....I am. What a silly statement.

[RocketDog]

3 hours ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

Looks like my vasectomy is starting to pay off now. ????

 

Maybe so. But have you actually tested your theory with a live woman?

Nope. Didn't think so.

[StevieAus]

3 hours ago, b2bme said:

I see countless numbers of these out on the verge for rubbish collection or with a "for free" sign on them in Australia. Nothing wrong with them except no longer required and seems most people here want new items for their new born or infants and not used. You struggle to give stuff away most times just because people want new stuff. Cots, prams/push carts, change tables, baby car seats, booster seats and so on. Guess it is similar in other Western countries. You can literally furnish a house with the stuff that gets thrown out here.

A few years ago I saw a place in Chiang Mai selling very good quality used products from Japan including car seats push chairs etc

We bought a very good quality timber “ high chair” for our daughter which is still in use and  has been passed on a couple more times.

Maybe you could send out a container full and I will be your agent here !!!!! 

[spidermike007]

45 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

There is definitely the ‘oh they don’t like it and cry’ mentality towards car seats... so they just end up not being used. 

 

I recall my mother in law (Thai) a few years back suggesting that we take our son out of his car seat because he doesn’t like it !!!.....  (he was crying)... I tried to point out that if he’s crying he’s fine !...  

 

The logic amongst many here is upside-down...  they want to take the child out of the car seat because they don’t like being restrained. Speak to any (most) western parents and they’ll point out how they had to take their child for a drive in the car seat to get them to go to sleep !!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

All the child has to do is cry, and they get whatever they want, from a parent who has no idea they are the boss. Just say NO! 

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, digger70 said:

I don't understand the mentality of the people winge about the cost of a  child car seat. But they All got an I Phone and big screen TV's.

Priorities comes to mind. same as Helmets and Seatbelts and no people in a cargo area of a Ute and Follow the Road Rules .

Then Who's gonna enforce the Law/Rules . 5555

That is an extremely pertinent point: 

 

Any parent who owns a 5000+ baht phone but complains they can’t afford a car seat for their child is an absolute a$$....  In fact, any person that can afford a car, can afford an infant and a child car seat. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

All the child has to do is cry, and they get whatever they want, from a parent who has no idea they are the boss. Just say NO! 

Indeed...   when I have heard people point out that they [the infant / child] complains or cries....  I point out that if they are crying they are fine !!!... its when they go silent to start worrying !!!... 

 

In the ‘west’ we know...... we absolutely know that without any hint of doubt that a child will be fine sitting in a car seat, they’ll get used to be because there is no other option.... 

 

As soon as parents allow the ‘seat vs no seat’ to become even a possibility, children start ruling the roost....  the parents weakness places the child in direct danger. 

[Geordieabroad]

Don't worry about car seats, just put them on a motorbike with an amulet, no helmet and a mask, they'll be ok