file photo

 

OPINION

Living here in Pattaya I have been mainly ignored by the ever-present police checkpoints that are sent out every day to stop motorbike riders and passengers.

Driving a car is a lot easier and to be honest, I have not been stopped for a few years now.

Of course, I have my tax disc in the window, which is up to date, so they just wave me on.

Ironically, the last time they stopped me was in Trang province and there they fined us as my passengers in the back were not wearing a seat belts. In those days I was new in town, so paid up as I didn’t know the rules.

Meanwhile, I have friends with bikes who have become experts in taking the back roads or soi’s to avoid the numerous police checkpoints.

Even with an international car and bike licence, they still fine my Scottish expat friend on a daily basis.

I keep telling him to rent or buy a car as with his month fines it would be cheaper, but he prefers the bike.

Now with the new seat belt rules starting on September 5th the police must be looking forward to a few bumper months of collecting fines from us unsuspecting drivers of cars.

There will naturally be a few teething problems to start with, but how long will the police be happy with just giving a friendly warning.

I am sure getting blacked-out windows will be one way to avoid fines.

Child Seats

Apart from using seat belts, children will require car seats too.

Personally, I think it is a great idea as coming from the UK we always buckled up the kids in their car seats.

According to the recent Royal Gazette announcement, child car seats or booster seat cushions are now compulsory for children younger than 6 or those 135 cms or shorter in height. 

Having checked out the prices of the proper car seats at Robinsons store recently, most were over THB3,000 up to THB6,000, so if you have two toddlers that will set Mum’s back over THB6,000.

You can get cheaper models online but are they safe and will you be able to fit them into your car?

As many Thais are single Mums trying to work and look after kids or paying a friend to babysit, this new outlay will be hard to find.

Expect a black market of sub-standard baby seats to start appearing at markets or online, but will they still save lives on Thailand’s dangerous expressways?

One thing is for sure burglars will be having a field day, as the police will be too busy catching seat belt offenders to chase after them.

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

To black out car windows to avoid being caught not wearing seat belts should not be an option as the level of blackout is restricted by law, but as usual, here in Thailand, not enforced. As far as I can remember you are not allowed to black out front or rear windscreens and only minimal blackout is allowed on the sides. Over 90% of cars have illegal amount of blackout.

 

I have seen tons of child car seats in second hand stores for next to nothing.

1 hour ago, pattjock said:

To black out car windows to avoid being caught not wearing seat belts should not be an option as the level of blackout is restricted by law, but as usual, here in Thailand, not enforced. As far as I can remember you are not allowed to black out front or rear windscreens and only minimal blackout is allowed on the sides. Over 90% of cars have illegal amount of blackout.

 

I have seen tons of child car seats in second hand stores for next to nothing.

I don't think we're meant to take this article seriously ????

Its going to be difficult to wear a seat belt bouncing along in the back of a pick-up truck..... workers, extended families ... perhaps a cargo net over the top ...

Maybe not but with 30,000 people killed and hundred of thousands injured in traffic in Thailand every year someone should take it seriously.

 

Child seats and safety belts save lives. Blacked out windscreens kills, especially night time.

It's about time this law is implemented. They should have done this 20 years ago and they could have saved the lives of many lovely Thai kids who flew through their parents' car's windshields in accidents. 

Even the Richie riches at my kids' international school had BMWs with chilnseats for their kids, but they never strapped them in. I saw one of them have to lock the brakes up and her kid flew into the back of her seat and got a bloody nose. That was going 5kph. 

3 hours ago, pattjock said:

To black out car windows to avoid being caught not wearing seat belts should not be an option as the level of blackout is restricted by law, but as usual, here in Thailand, not enforced. As far as I can remember you are not allowed to black out front or rear windscreens and only minimal blackout is allowed on the sides. Over 90% of cars have illegal amount of blackout.

 

I have seen tons of child car seats in second hand stores for next to nothing.

Whats the law on tinted windows, do you have a link I can read.

1 hour ago, pattjock said:

Blacked out windscreens kills, especially night time.

Lot;s of new business will be created for blacked out windows.

It's an attitude thing in Thailand when it comes to road safety.

Also a great excuse to bring back the check points.

Amazing Thailand, again and again.

 

 

 

Good Morning, ????

Regardless who you are if RTP is having a bad day they will fine you and if your certainly a Farang be prepared to pay almost every time !!

However I can’t count how many times I see people with no helmets on motorcycles and hordes of people in the back of pick-up trucks , ALL VIOLATIONS OF LAW AND RTP ENFORCEMENT, But watch RTP in vehicles and motorcycles drive right by violators and rarely enforce these laws.

TIT !!!! 555555555 ???? 

For those seats there is always a second hand market.

No worries????

What about the people in the back of a pickup truck.

Should be a law to follow all cars to be fitted with a roll cages and armor that should save one or two lives ???? 

This has always been the law like 99.9 of them not enforced wait a free weeks and it will been over like the 99.9 .

Someone gets a hair up their backside or something hits the news like crosswalks which thousands have been painted yet surveys after they are still running.  Solution can't fix something move on to something else take the focus off the real topic!   " The Asian application of the Art of War " 

The manner of inspections by the time you get up to the front whatever violation has been corrected. 

 

As for black out window save the money gesture!   Roll down your windows. 

 

I wonder if a seat would be required on a motorbike. 

 

Consistency isn't one of Thailand leaders verture!

If you can afford a car (and run it !!) then you can afford the correct safety seats 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

OPINION

Living here in Pattaya I have been mainly ignored by the ever-present police checkpoints that are sent out every day to stop motorbike riders and passengers.

What is it they say about "opinions"............

Perhaps I am lucky as, living in Pattaya and driving both car or bike, I have not seen or come across these "ever present" checkpoints........

Wearing seat belts in the back seat of a car may well save a few lives in accidents, but teaching Thais to drive properly and enforcing exiting traffic regulations would save far more.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Even with an international car and bike licence, they still fine my Scottish expat friend on a daily basis.

sounds like you have quality friends.

21 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

I wonder if a seat would be required on a motorbike. 

No problems out in the bush.

32 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

 

I wonder if a seat would be required on a motorbike. 

 

 

Typically motorbikes are sold with a seat.... would be damn uncomfortable to ride without one.

If you have everything in order you should have no problems,

If the check points find people without license , more important

no insurance , even more important DUI , I find no problem with

them.

 

Is the OP exaggerating the amount of checkpoints in Pattaya ? 

up here in Chiang Mai cannot remember that last time I seen one,

police are like hens teeth , hear the sirens of Police cars most nights

especially when its raining ......

 

regards Worgeordie

34 minutes ago, JoePai said:

If you can afford a car (and run it !!) then you can afford the correct safety seats 

It depends, 99% is funded, and many must lie crooked for it to pay the monthly payment.

If you can afford a car surely you can afford seats for the children

1 hour ago, Orinoco said:

Lot;s of new business will be created for blacked out windows.

It's an attitude thing in Thailand when it comes to road safety.

Also a great excuse to bring back the check points.

Amazing Thailand, again and again.

 

 

 

I think, but not sure it is a maximum of 30%. In a car we had the windows was 15% which I found to be dark enough to allow for a good view of the road.

Expats should be setting the example when it comes to traffic safety.

 

Any steps to improve road safety should be applauded.

 

If your Scottish friend is living here he should get a Thai driver's license. If he's truly getting fined on a daily basis, my advice would be for him to stop driving until he's gotten his Thai driver's license and taken a 4 week driver's training class.

 

If OP is concerned about affordability of car seats, find someone who needs help buying one.

 

Suggesting getting your windows heavily tinted as a way to circumvent enforcement of seat-belt laws is irresponsible. Heavily tinted windows are a serious safety hazard at night.

 

Even though this editorial is anonymous, I've got a pretty good idea who wrote it.

1 hour ago, Robert Tyrrell said:

Good Morning, ????

Regardless who you are if RTP is having a bad day they will fine you and if your certainly a Farang be prepared to pay almost every time !!

However I can’t count how many times I see people with no helmets on motorcycles and hordes of people in the back of pick-up trucks , ALL VIOLATIONS OF LAW AND RTP ENFORCEMENT, But watch RTP in vehicles and motorcycles drive right by violators and rarely enforce these laws.

TIT !!!! 555555555 ???? 

Been stopped a few times but never been fined and I am a Farang.

But then I drive a car and follow the rules that I am aware of, most of the time..

The laws should be for everyone and enforced fairly. Which is an issue in itself. 
But people complain when police don’t do their job.  And then complain when they do it.  You can’t have it both ways. 

1 minute ago, Gecko123 said:

Expats should be setting the example when it comes to traffic safety.

It would seem to be a strange responsibility to impose on foreigners, and likely unwanted. Have you ever tried to tell a local anything?

My Mrs won't listen, as she knows everything already.

5 hours ago, pattjock said:

To black out car windows to avoid being caught not wearing seat belts should not be an option as the level of blackout is restricted by law, but as usual, here in Thailand, not enforced. As far as I can remember you are not allowed to black out front or rear windscreens and only minimal blackout is allowed on the sides. Over 90% of cars have illegal amount of blackout.

 

I have seen tons of child car seats in second hand stores for next to nothing.

Did you do a study to see that 90% of car windows are tinted illegally? Are you sure windows are tinted to avoid being seen without a seatbelt?  You are one whose suspicions must be given to the RT so they stop all cars with tinted windows at the checkpoints then in order to correct the 90% of scofflaws. Can you please post a link to the Tinting regulations.

47 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Typically motorbikes are sold with a seat.... would be damn uncomfortable to ride without one.

Seat and belt for a kid as required for a car! 

You want to get tough serious then set up each morning during school hours and days 1 Km from entrance to the factory of death. 

The way they inspect by the time vehicle get up to the front to be inspected parents and kids would get out and walk by the time vehicle is inspected parent would be back into the car all buckle up. ????

5 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Seat and belt for a kid as required for a car! 

You want to get tough serious then set up each morning during school hours and days 1 Km from entrance to the factory of death. 

The way they inspect by the time vehicle get up to the front to be inspected parents and kids would get out and walk by the time vehicle is inspected parent would be back into the car all buckle up. ????

Seatbelt on a motorbike !!!

 

Thats the funniest sht ive read this week.