Needless death of a Thai teen whose friend was on the phone on a bike: So many questions about the Thai roads

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported on the tragic and needless death on a beach road in Rayong, eastern Thailand. 

 

A local 14 year old girl was riding a motorcycle with a 14 year old friend riding pillion.

 

Witnesses told police that they saw the rider using one hand on her phone and one on the handlebars.

 

In addition she was speaking loudly on the phone. 

 

She lost control of her bike slamming into the back of a parked pick-up. 

 

Her friend was propelled off the back into the door of another vehicle. She was named at Matjuree

aged 14.

 

Salisa, also 14, was taken from Mae Rampung beach road to Rayong Hospital with grievous injuries. 

 

There was no mention of helmets being worn in the Thai Rath story, notes ASEAN NOW. 

 

The questions this accident raises are many.

 

Should such aged children as 14 be riding motorcycles?

 

What does it say about road safety education if they are driving a vehicle - and a motorcycle at that - while on the phone?

 

What is likely to happen to the apparently entirely innocent pick-up drivers involved in such a tragedy?

 

How can needless accidents like this, that are not only devastating on a human level but disastrous from an economic standpoint, be reduced?

 

Should the police be on the lookout for transgressions and doing something to enforce traffic laws?

 

Should their supposed masters - the politicians - be doing more to ensure the RTP enforce the law?

 

Do the politicians even care?

 

Should schools do more to train students - even the underaged when it comes to riding or driving - in good habits on the roads?

 

The appalling death toll on the Thai roads - increasingly growing in the younger age ranges and taking over from drowning as the leading cause of fatalities in under 15s - is well documented. 

 

Thailand continues to pay lip service to the carnage on the roads.

 

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[Photoguy21]

Can a 14 year old get a license? I didnt think they could but I could be wrong. There are two major things wrong and these are:

1. The driving test is a joke both for cars and bikes and

2. The law enforcement / fines are totally failing. Strong laws are required to make the consequences of driving without license, insurance or under the influence so sever that only a fool would break them. If that is enforced then there may be a reduction is lives being wasted.

[law ling]

RIP.

Way too young to go at just 14. Just shocking.

 

Yes, these deaths are a too common read here.

 

It's a death, so gets reported. Could have survived, but in a wheel-chair for life ...  which probably wouldn't have gotten reported.

[Geoffggi]

What's the point? the powers that be know the problems and what is required to solve them and if they don't care nothing will happen.

[Orinoco]

Thailand doesn't care about it's children.

That's why it lets about 14 die every day on the roads.

Most parents don't care as well, who bought the motor bike? who let her on the road as an under age rider? who taught her to ride it correctly ? who said she can carry a passenger. the list of fails are just endless here.

Grow up Thailand and stop killing your kids.

Disgraceful on many levels. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tomacht8]

Somehow there is also an inability for many people to assess the consequences of their own actions intellectually (cognitively), a general irresponsibility and unfortunately also an unhealthy egotism.

 

- If I ride a motorbike and talk on the phone with one hand on my ear, then (consequence) I can no longer brake in time in an emergency and injure myself.

 

- If I drive at night without a working rear light

(irresponsibility), then (consequence) other road users cannot recognize me in time and .....

 

- If I park in the second row in front of the bank to have the shortest way to the ATM (egoism), then (consequence) I block the road and impede other road users.

 

If there is a missing gene, or is this subsequent thinking (what can happen if) not taught at school? Is puzzling to me.

[ikke1959]

too many young people die on the road.. Why do parents allow them to ride a bike in the first place?? I see kids from primary school class 5 or 6 sometimes driving a motorcycle and when i see them in my class, sometimes injured I tell them that they are not allowed and if theyhave pain now I hope it will be a lesson.

Secondly the police is doing nothing about it.. High fines or confiscate the vehicles, that would hurt them and people only learn when they are hurt by things like this. 

Why is it impossible to let people drive with a helmet?? In other countries no problem but in Thailand .....

and than not to forget if you see people on a motorcycle, it seems that they are sitting at home on a sofa and talking to eachother, looking backwarths to pilon driver, checking their phones as if they are important businesspeople,. In the beginning I felt sorry for the young wasted lifes by motorcycle accidents, but now after almost 20 years in Thailand, I don't care anymore.... Stupidity can't be cured. 

[ikke1959]

31 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

If there is a missing gene, or is this subsequent thinking (what can happen if) not taught at school? Is puzzling to me.

I stopped teaching because I had the feeling I was teaching alzheimer patients.... They forget, don't think, copy but don't know what they copy and after 6 years English as a Thai English teacher told me they still don't know the ABC... So sure there is something missing

[transam]

Riding underage, parents know yet supply a bike, police don't care.

 

Every day we see folk on bikes driving with one hand, in the other, phone, baby or umbrella are the usual culprits, the police don't care.

 

The only time anyone cares is if a payout, other than that, the police and parents don't care..     ????

[VocalNeal]

5 minutes ago, transam said:

Every day we see folk on bikes driving with one hand, in the other, phone, baby or umbrella are the usual culprits, the police don't care.

Trying to stock a gecko running up inside the leg of one's shorts  

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

How can needless accidents like this, that are not only devastating on a human level but disastrous from an economic standpoint, be reduced?

I have come to the conclusion that there is a huge cultural feeling that accidents are karma/destiny and an element of fatalism. 

[worgeordie]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Should the police be on the lookout for transgressions and doing something to enforce traffic laws?

They should, but you just don't see them around, while driving in the UK

years ago now ,you could bet if you did something wrong ,there would

be a patrol car there to stop you.

 

You have to wonder what the parents are thinking ,letting their kids

drive at that age, and I bet they had no helmets on, cannot mess the hair up

 

regards worgeordie

 

 

 

[Iamfalang]

When I see dangerous driving (motorbike) or kids on a motorbike, do you know what I do?

 

nothing.   always nothing.  never anything.

 

if you want to save lives, get involved!!!  educate!!! report!!!   lol.  nobody will do anything.  

[greenmonkey]

1 hour ago, Orinoco said:

Thailand doesn't care about it's children.

That's why it lets about 14 die every day on the roads.

Most parents don't care as well, who bought the motor bike? who let her on the road as an under age rider? who taught her to ride it correctly ? who said she can carry a passenger. the list of fails are just endless here.

Grow up Thailand and stop killing your kids.

Disgraceful on many levels. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sad but true and those parents that very irresponsibly allow their kids to ride bikes will be very quick to try and get some form of compensation from the other driver(s) involved.

[BKKTRAVELER]

I'll just say this: my GF's daughter just obtained her driving license. It took 3 days (4 hours each time) and a test (theory and driving) to get it done in roughly a week. Would I let her take our car and drive alone in Bangkok's streets? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Even teachers there warned us that getting your license doesn't mean you know how to drive. The whole system is messed up and they should start there at the root of the problem if they want different results.

 

RIP to the girl and so many others.

[JeffersLos]

The nasal stick didn't revive her?

 

Rest In Peace. The things parents let their kids do here has stopped surprising me at this stage.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, tomacht8 said:

Somehow there is also an inability for many people to assess the consequences of their own actions intellectually (cognitively), a general irresponsibility and unfortunately also an unhealthy egotism.

 

- If I ride a motorbike and talk on the phone with one hand on my ear, then (consequence) I can no longer brake in time in an emergency and injure myself.

 

- If I drive at night without a working rear light

(irresponsibility), then (consequence) other road users cannot recognize me in time and .....

 

- If I park in the second row in front of the bank to have the shortest way to the ATM (egoism), then (consequence) I block the road and impede other road users.

 

If there is a missing gene, or is this subsequent thinking (what can happen if) not taught at school? Is puzzling to me.

People do this because it's 'normal' bevavior. All of their lives growing up these are the behaviors they have observed and that includes their parents / families exhibiting the same behaviors. 

 

Bottom line: to the past and current generations these dangerous behavior are 'normal behaviors'.

 

Needs a lot more education in primary and high school, regular compulsory education segments on TV and same with social media. All showing graphic photos/videos of accidents and death.

 

Plus proper consistent enforcement by police.

 

And politicians etc., not allowed to make comments about protection from amulets, good karma, etc. 

 

Sure, I know, this is the LOS!

[Classic Ray]

55 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

I have come to the conclusion that there is a huge cultural feeling that accidents are karma/destiny and an element of fatalism. 

This feeling encouraged by the Government who consequently can avoid responsibility to provide better education, training and enforcement to reduce the collisions. After all the vast majority of victims are poor people, who cares about them?

[IamNoone88]

where there is no will .... there is no resolve.

[gungadin1]

49 minutes ago, BKKTRAVELER said:

I'll just say this: my GF's daughter just obtained her driving license. It took 3 days (4 hours each time) and a test (theory and driving) to get it done in roughly a week. Would I let her take our car and drive alone in Bangkok's streets? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Even teachers there warned us that getting your license doesn't mean you know how to drive. The whole system is messed up and they should start there at the root of the problem if they want different results.

 

RIP to the girl and so many others.

Yes my wife did a 1 week course and obtained her license.I asked her you have license now can you drive?she said no

[Denim]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Should such aged children as 14 be riding motorcycles?

IMO , parents of such children should be charged with negligence and serve some time behind bars. Then , it should be made clear to all parents that they will be held accountable should their children be caught riding with a license , insurance and a helmet.

 

The alternative is just carry on and do nothing with fingers crossed.

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

I have come to the conclusion that there is a huge cultural feeling that accidents are karma/destiny and an element of fatalism. 

yes, and a huge cultural mistake in thinking an amulet can save you from certain death

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

they are driving a vehicle - and a motorcycle at that - while on the phone

and pertaining to the above:

What if they survive years of unsafe driving and are now old enough to graduate to pick-up trucks? I believe that they will also graduate from mostly killing themselves to harming others as well.

[EricTh]

I see a lot of Thai people talking on the phone while riding their motorbike. Furthermore, they don't even wear helmets.

 

This is asking for disaster to happen. Isn't there basic education of road safety in Thailand?

 

How did they even get a driving licence in the first place?

[KhunLA]

Forget 'Thai roads', forget the law, enforcement, lack of, test, blah blah blah ...

 

... what responsible parent lets 14 yr old drive a motorbike, possibly without a helmet ?

 

Surely they'll blame everyone and everything ... except themselves.

R I P

[scorecard]

34 minutes ago, gungadin1 said:

Yes my wife did a 1 week course and obtained her license.I asked her you have license now can you drive?she said no

When my Thai son was old enough to get his license he said he had noticed a driving school 10 minutes walk from our condo. I had already offered to teach him to drive but he was keen to go to a professional driving school.

 

He had already found and bought a book of 'Thai Rules of the Road' in both Thai and English. He asked for my comment on the book, I scanned it, (about 20 pages, mostly quite nicely drawn graphics). I was impressed.

 

I suggested he go to the driving school and make enquiries, he did that and announced he would start the next day.

 

Following morning he went to the school, paid for all the lessons, and he quickly discovered the 'manager' he had spoken to the previous day was the only instructor and wasn't all that pleasant.

 

The 'instructor' told my son to get in and back the vehicle out of the compound and onto the outside road. Outside road was 2 lanes only, one way and always a large volume of traffic. This was quite some distance in the yard and between several other vehicles with very little gap between the vehicles, and piles of boxes etc.. The vehicle was an old, big, dirty pick up with the engine continously stopping.

 

Son said 'I've never driven a car before or had any instruction before', which prompted much yelling from the instructor about 'try, try', but with zero instruction.

 

Son got out of the vehicle, and then asked 'are you going to teach me the rules of the road?' Response: 'No this is a driving school and there are no rules of the road so how can I teach you the rules of the road'.

 

Son produced the book of 'The Thai Rules of the Road'. Instructor claimed it was fake and then insisted on my son backing the vehicle out.

 

Son walked out and came home quickly and shared his bad  experience and was quite upset.

 

I then offered again to teach him to drive, to explain the basics of what the pedals actually do, how the brakes work etc., etc., and to spend some hours together to study the rules of the road, best driving behaviors, what / situations to be careful etc.

 

He was a good student and grew keen to ask many questions about how the car worked etc. I encouraged his questions and made sure he always felt comfortable, no yelling or impatience from me ever.

 

About 3 months later he went for the test and got his license. 

[Purdey]

It seems quite common outside major cities for kids to borrow dad's motorbike from a young age. Some are given them to go to school as we would give a bicycle. The parents will not blame themselves for their child's death and won't learn anything. Even a military coup won't be tough on drivers.

[skorp13]

Should schools do more to train students? That has to qualify for one of the stupidest questions of the year. How about the parents as well, if they have any? I understand sometimes they need their young teens to go get something or run an errand but that doesn't mean hammering into them basic rules of safety should be ignored and not preached.

I've seen way too many young teens after 02:00 laid out of the ground with a pool of blood leaking out of their heads. I'll be the first one to say how free it feels to ride and understand the fun and enjoyment of riding a scooter or full on motorcycle but if you want to treat them as toys buy the safety gear and take it off road!

[vandeventer]

Very sad, only 14 and gone. The girl should have known better talking on the phone but they all do it. And yes they talk so loud that you can hear them miles away. Where I live I asked a kid getting on a motorbike with his brother a few months ago, just how old he was and he said 7 years old. The mothers and fathers should tell us why this is happening.

[Dene16]

3 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

The law enforcement / fines are totally failing. Strong laws are required to make the consequences of driving without license, insurance or under the influence so sever that only a fool would break them. If that is enforced then there may be a reduction is lives being wasted.

Seeing kids on the phone whilst driving is a common sight. It is also not uncommon in the villages to see young mothers carrying their babies in one hand whilst riding one handed.

2 years ago whilst travelling past the school in Surin city at closing, the police were directing the traffic as hundreds of kids drove from the school, very few wearing helmets.

Obviously the police are happy to turn a blind eye to it at this time

I was shocked to see a boy that looked about 12 years of age (in school uniform) who could only just  reach the floor on what was at least a 750cc motorcycle with a young girl as a pillion (no helmets)

I tried to catch him on my 250 to get a better look but he left me standing as he bombed off

Even in Samut Sakhon in  Bangkok the number of people not wearing helmets shocked me

3 local teenagers, on bikes, have died in the last 2 years in the 4 months i was there. How many have died when i wasn't there?