Should the Thai government ban mobile use for motorcyclists?

[webfact]

File photo for reference only

 

OPINION

 

Many of you read the report this week of a distraught father who lost his 14-year-old daughter in a motorbike accident.

 

He told reporters that he got a call every parent dreaded that his only daughter was dead - hit head-on by a pick-up truck.
 
She wasn't going in the direction of the school. She was off to pick up a friend.
 
The driver of the Nissan Navaro said he saw her on the phone coming toward him. 

 

He braked coming to a halt, but she rode into his lane on the two-lane road and collided head on.
 
The accident happened at the Udon Thani to Nong Saeng Ban Lupwai Road in Muang district of Udon Thani. 
 
The pick-up had severe damage to the front and the young lady's red Honda Wave was nearby on the ground. 
 
The driver said he was delivering jelly to Nong Saeng when he saw the teen on the phone coming toward him.
 
A public health volunteer said this showed the danger of looking at phones while on motorcycles.
 
Such behavior breaks concentration, they said. 
 
Police are investigating the cause of the accident. 

 

File photo for reference only

 

Mobiles and Motorbikes go together

 

The bottom line is this is a regular occurrence as many motorcyclists automatically look at their mobiles, especially at the traffic lights and continue texting often while in motion.

 

Go back a couple of decades and we did not have this problem, as there were no mobiles around.

The fact that in this case, the girl was underage is another issue.

 

However after this tragedy, surely now is the time for the Thais roads minister to officially ban the use of mobile phones for drivers and passengers on motorbikes across Thailand.

 

Perhaps the best deterrent would be for the police to confiscate the phone for three days on the first occasion, and then if they are caught a second time, they pay a fine and their phone is taken away for a week.

 

Knowing how addicted Thais are to Line, Facebook and Tik Tok, this new regulation should have the desired effect.

 

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[SAFETY FIRST]

37 minutes ago, webfact said:

Should the Thai government ban mobile use for motorcyclists 

OMG 

Why isn't it already banned? 

 

Bloody dangerous. 

 

Come on Thailand, get with the times. 

Edited August 31, 2022 by SAFETY FIRST

[smedly]

Should the Thai government ban mobile use for motorcyclists

 

 

no, only if in hand just like any other vehicle

[MyFriend You]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

Should the Thai government ban mobile use for motorcyclists

 

 

no, only if in hand just like any other vehicle

I assume you are referring using a phone while operating a Motorcycle is fine if they are using it 'hands free'??  I know some of the higher end Motor bikes have this feature, but what about he el-cheapo's??   Peace

[ikke1959]

They can ban it it, but it will work the same as wearing a helmet... no enforcement so everybody continue  using heir phones

[Scott]

An improperly formatted post has been reported and removed.  

 

[AsianAtHeart]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

and passengers

Why should it be banned for passengers?  That would make no sense at all.

 

Banning phone use for motorcyclists will create its own set of problems, one of which it will be just another law ignored, because the police rarely, if ever, patrol actual traffic, they work from checkpoints.  There are people who use phones responsibly, and who may even need them, such as the delivery guys trying to find the location of their target address via GPS on their phone.

[Rampant Rabbit]

No, they should  give them two  phones so they can thin them out even faster

[sammieuk1]

Umm! I think they should especially when holding an umbrella and smoking a fag 4up ????  

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

ban the use of mobile phones for drivers and passengers

I agree, ban the passenger from using. 

 

It seems every pretty chick is on her phone texting when on the back of a motorbike taxi. 

 

I want her attention ????

[Asquith Production]

I am surprised its not already unlawful. Banning all together will get no where. All food deliveries etc are using mobile phones. They should state that the phone must be mounted in a cradle and that they can only be operated when stationary.

 

[jacko45k]

Why only motorcyclists. we all know why the car in front is all over the road or will not move from the green light. 

[Boomer6969]

54 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

They can ban it it, but it will work the same as wearing a helmet.

Only allow the use of headsets integrated in helmets like F1 drivers. With exclusive Siri control and impose a special "Pro" license for their use. Hefty fines.

 

And, enforce all existing laws.

[nowhereman]

57 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Why should it be banned for passengers?  That would make no sense at all.

 

Banning phone use for motorcyclists will create its own set of problems, one of which it will be just another law ignored, because the police rarely, if ever, patrol actual traffic, they work from checkpoints.  There are people who use phones responsibly, and who may even need them, such as the delivery guys trying to find the location of their target address via GPS on their phone.

I agree that the use of GPS for delivery guys is essential but there is no need to look at the phone while driving. I use Bluetooth build in my helmet and just by listening  to GPS instructions I always find my way. If I have to look at the phone I stop in a safe location and take it out of my bag. Any wire or wireless earphones would do the trick as well. 

[Classic Ray]

Nothing will change due to lack of official concern ( only affects poor people) and lack of enforcement. This is the Thai way.

[ezzra]

Banning the use of mobile phone for motorcycle riders and it will be the death knell of the giant messengering and delivery industry and the daily rice and noddle soups of millions who use their bike to carry most of this country commerce of their 2 wheels...

Edited September 1, 2022 by ezzra

[Lacessit]

Studies in Australia have shown mobile phone use while driving has the same effect on reflexes and concentration as imbibing 2-3 full strength beers in an hour.

 

Even assuming mobile phone use was banned, the fines would be the same slap on the wrist as for helmets.

 

If the police started impounding bikes for non-compliance, the scofflaw culture would change very rapidly.

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

4 minutes ago, ezzra said:

will be the death knell

That about sums the problem up.

Die if you do and die if you don't.

[Lacessit]

4 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Banning the use of mobile phone for motorcycle riders and it will be the death knell of the giant messengering and delivery industry and the daily rice and noddle soups of millions who use their bike to carry most of this country commerce of their 2 wheels...

Disagree, all they would have to do is pull over and stop while sending and receiving messages.

[RichardColeman]

If they ban mobile phones on motorbikes, then my motorbike taxi driver will only have his coffee and cigarette to worry about, and not the past three items. 

[Bert got kinky]

 

 

Meanwhile, in the 'Bangkok News' section of this forum, a news article is titled 'Bangkok gets tough with motorcyclists riding or parking on pavements'.

 

Here's an idea, why not introduce laws that should already have been in place, such as (but not limited to):

One pillion passenger only (no families).

Helmets for both the rider and the pillion.

No pavement surfing.

No driving the wrong way.

No turning on a red light because the roads are quiet.

No phones for rider (except for a fixed GPS).

No 12 to 15 year olds (16 to 18 provision licence, smaller cc allowance).

REAL DRIVING TESTS.

No illegal U-turns.

Follow all other road laws/rules

 

Once you have these laws in place, try enforcing them.

 

 

[tomazbodner]

Like mentioned above, I also disagree with this. Phones are used for GPS navigation, and are crucial for the delivery drivers and just about anyone else driving in unfamiliar areas. They could however enforce some sort of phone mounts to put phones on while driving to see the maps, and ban/fine picking up the phone while moving the vehicle, which could as well extend to the drivers of other vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, etc.).

[connda]

Of course, but then, it's completely unenforceable.

[kingstonkid]

6 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

OMG 

Why isn't it already banned? 

 

Bloody dangerous. 

 

Come on Thailand, get with the times. 

Banning is one thing enforcing the ban is the joke (not a BIG JOKE)  

no t only do they use them when stationary but they use them when actually driving just like cars.

[toofarnorth]

3 hours ago, Asquith Production said:

I am surprised its not already unlawful. Banning all together will get no where. All food deliveries etc are using mobile phones. They should state that the phone must be mounted in a cradle and that they can only be operated when stationary.

 

Further to this I think cars should be fitted with a device so that when the engine is started calls cannot be made from the vehicle. So many times I have said to a mate " The driver has put his phone down , look he is speeding up ".

[Photoguy21]

It should never have been allowed so there should not be the need to ban it. You cannot drive and use a phone at the same time.

[mikeymike100]

4 hours ago, Asquith Production said:

I am surprised its not already unlawful. Banning all together will get no where. All food deliveries etc are using mobile phones. They should state that the phone must be mounted in a cradle and that they can only be operated when stationary.

 

You make a fair point, but it will never happen, even if it did , it would be unenforceable cos too many folks do it!

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Go back a couple of decades and we did not have this problem, as there were no mobiles around.

Back then just drugs, alcohol and a hot looking girl on the pavement... a new decade a new distraction... nothing changes.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Umm! I think they should especially when holding an umbrella and smoking a fag 4up ????  

Don't drop the baby dear.... balanced on one knee.

[richard_smith237]

If I’m not mistaken the law already exists banning the use of handheld phones while driving / riding.

 

Thus: For cars and motorcycles, mounted devices are (should be) acceptable, so that they can be used to follow GPS / Map directions and take calls to a wifi headset (or wired headset).

 

Motorcyclists and drivers who are found in motion while ‘holding’ a phone that isn’t secured should face fines. 

 

 

Of course - laws are not followed anyway until there is ‘media / netizen outrage’ when an innocent child gets killed because someone was using their phone. Then there is a two week crack-down which everyone ignores so the police stop bothering.