New seatbelt law: Police will go "softly softly" from Sept 5 - but fines are "at the discretion of the officer"

[skorp13]

Laws but not laws 555. I almost thought they would take the fines to raise money to teach one of the deadliest road nations how to drive safely. LOL

[Purdey]

When front seatbelts became mandatory I remember there was an interim period where officers would give a warning (please correct me if I have misremembered). Like all things Thai, people need to be made aware and many simply don't know when new laws are introduced. It says something that not everyone reads newspapers. 

No doubt rear seatbelts will catch on as they are fitted on new cars already. Expect Bangkok to wear seatbelts, then word will spread 

[bluemoon58]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

These were typically wishy-washy indicating that the RTP hasn't really thought the issue through. The spokesman didn't even know what different car seats were.

Wow, shocker! 

[DUNROAMIN]

Flip flop time again, this place is a joke.

[tomacht8]

 

.. but fines are "at the discretion of the officer"

 

555

It's always been like that. When some officers so discreetly stick their arm through the open car window, 10 cm below the line of sight with an open hand.

 

[Peterphuket]

It's exactly the same as with tinted glass, if I remember correctly 30% was the maximum allowed, about 15 years ago.

But even that was not sustainable to enforce.

[Burma Bill]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Regarding car seats for children he spoke of there being three kinds of restraining devices - "car seats, special seats and seats that stop danger".

Oh really - are school buses included?????

 

[jesimps]

6 hours ago, garygooner said:

Just another idea that will simply go away. Seeing construction workers packed into trucks every day, some having to stand. 

Or the workers that travel on the top of Coca Cola lorries.

[D M G]

6 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

The new laws do not bother us. ????

 

Not your country..............................

[D M G]

35 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Oh really - are school buses included?????

 

Not your country.............................

[fusion58]

“…fines are "at the discretion of the officer"

 

When have they ever not been?

[Grusa]

7 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

The new laws do not bother us. ????

 

That looks a lot safer than some after school transport. Except the tow hitch looks a bit dodgy 5555.

[digger70]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

they all had to belt up. 

Meaning,,,If someone tells you to belt up, they are telling you in a very impolite way to stop talking. [British, informal]. Chambers waved his hand. 'Belt up!' he ...  

 

55555

[yeahbutif]

Who comes up with these so called laws... with out working out the details first....I agree  all for laws to protect life . But if they can't do anything about crash helmets on a motorcycle..that is very visible and easy to see and cars with no number plates...have they going to police something that is not easy visible...so I'm come to the conclusion.its tax another excuse to collect money at the road side..eg cant find anything wrong ...oh no seat belt..   nothing really about protecting the people at my all.. 

[Liverpool Lou]

7 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

The new laws do not bother us. ????

 

Obviously not, bikes don't have to have seat belts.

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, gp2002 said:

If you want to die, don't wear a seat belt 

Simple

Actually, not "that simple", I haven't needed a seat belt in 71 years and I haven't died yet.   I do use them, but they have never been brought into effect. 

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, hellohello123 said:

I'm going to send them an email and ask if it's advisable to put my seatbelt around my neck with fishing wire

Why?

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

When front seatbelts became mandatory I remember there was an interim period where officers would give a warning (please correct me if I have misremembered).

Police officers have the authority to use their discretion and just issue a warning for any offence at any time.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

It's exactly the same as with tinted glass, if I remember correctly 30% was the maximum allowed, about 15 years ago.

But even that was not sustainable to enforce.

There have never been laws specifying the maximum tint in Thailand, there were going to be regulations introduced in 2000 but those plans were abandoned.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, fusion58 said:

“…fines are "at the discretion of the officer"

 

When have they ever not been?

Same as in every other country.

[newnative]

What's confusing?  They go easy on all the laws.

[freedomnow]

Do I have to get one fitted to my scooter ?

[rwill]

6 hours ago, gp2002 said:

If you want to die, don't wear a seat belt 

Simple

Better yet ride a motorcycle.

[MrMo]

That must be the same level of EASE that they have been applying to passengers in the back of a pick-up for a decade or more.

But we must give the man in charge of the Ministry of Transport some credit.  Now only South Africa has more road fatalities.

[Maybole]

How does that affect the passengers in the back of a songthaew?

Every morning I see one going to the local school with so many pupils on it (at least 20) that 4 or 5 boys are hanging on outside.

[Deli]

7 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

There is no official support for the banning of passengers in pickup beds as all the likely victims are poor, and thus of no consequence.

 

Same for seatbelts and child seats. The rich and well educated will use them (except for the arrogant) but the poor, who really need telling of the consequences, will not through ignorance and apathy. Their children will be the victims.

Proud to be ignorant and being alive coz of NOT having had the seat belt when having had the accident

[spidermike007]

If there is one aspect of the RTP that remains consistent, it is their extreme level of indifference, when it comes to anything traffic safety related. Same applies to the highway patrol. The carnage will continue unabated. When is the last time you saw a maniac pulled over for reckless driving by the infamous "highway patrol"? 

[itsari]

6 hours ago, George Aylesham said:

Actually that's a pretty good idea - insurance invalidated by non-wearing of seatbelt (just as life insurance is invalidated by suicide)

Not all life policies are invalidated by suicide . 

 

[Tropposurfer]

And so the needles deaths from no restraints being worn will continue. Sad very sad.

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

The media called September 5th "D-Day" - as they always do - but the devil was in the details,

In-correct...

The devil is in brown uniforms.