Do you wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle in Thailand?

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

You don’t seem to be able to think for yourself.

 

If these drivers have never had an incident then I think that they have very good judgement.

 

So you have worn your helmet and leathers and your little boots hundreds of times? 
Have you ever had an accident where they have actually saved you? Or, it reality never, so it is fair to say it was a complete waste of time and money? You would have been ok anyway. 
As are your in laws that you were criticizing.

 

 

You've outdone yourself... 

 

It's utterly mind-blowing how anyone could spew such a colossal level of stupidity as claiming that not having an accident somehow justifies not needing a helmet. This isn't just ignorant - it's dangerously idiotic. You're basically flaunting an inability to grasp the simplest concept of precaution, as if accidents politely announce their arrival.

 

Such a mindset isn't just laughable - it's a perfect recipe for Darwin Award-worthy disaster. 

 

It's impressive how you are so wilfully dense, yet not so surprising.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

If a motorbike taxi gets stopped at a police check and the passenger is helmet-less, who gets fined?

 

Both...

 

In Thailand, the legal obligation for motorcycle riders and passengers to wear helmets is established in Section 122, of the Land Traffic Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and its subsequent amendments.

The Act mandates that both riders and passengers must wear helmets that meet prescribed safety standards.

Passengers aged 15 and above can also be held individually accountable and fined for not wearing a helmet.

 

Thus: both the rider and the passenger may face charges - The reality may well be different, and I'm sure we'll hear of examples whereby the 'passenger was charged' leaving the Win-Taxi rider to get away with it !!!

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

The question is obviously also what kind of helmet. It seems there are many 100B "helmets" in Thailand which are maybe good enough to keep the parts of a head together in one place. But with no impact resistance at all.

 

One problem with wearing a decent helmet in Thailand is where to put it. Do you want to put it in one of those ugly big boxes on a bike? Or chain it to the bike?

 

And obviously, it's hot. And it's so nice to have the wind blowing in your hair... 

Apart from that, 95% of the time I use a helmet. 

 

 

My helmets are quite expensive...    I take them with me, along with the jacket etc...  and then I'm also hot and sweaty etc.. 

so this contribute the fact that I'm riding less and less these days...   Just to local chores..to play football etc.. (when alone)

If going to a shopping mall or dinner...   its always with the car anyway as I'll be with my Wife (and she's 100% a no-go on the back of the bike - I'll risk myself to a certain extent but not her).

 

 

[KireB]

Helmet saved my life. I slipped on Patong hill when it started raining. Had 53 stiches in my face, but thanks to helmet no further damage. Lot of sand in the curves also. Wear a helmet guys!

[transam]

I don't wear a helmet now, because I will not ride Mrs. T's new Vespa 150 in case I scratch it............😱

[richard_smith237]

57 minutes ago, KireB said:

Helmet saved my life. I slipped on Patong hill when it started raining. Had 53 stiches in my face, but thanks to helmet no further damage. Lot of sand in the curves also. Wear a helmet guys!

 

The closest I've come to getting knocked off was yesterday...   riding a fairly slow speed on a local soi following other traffic.

A young lad (about 14 at a guess) turning right, from my right, out of a side soi without looking, rode into the rear of my bike.....  Its long astonished me how many will turn without looking and only then react when something is in their way...

Its just odd how there is no self preservation to look and make sure, and then go...   as if stopping is a last resort.

... he hit my numberplate with his let, no damage to him, no damage to my bike other than a very slightly bent number plate (easily bent so no issues).

 

Had I been a second later, he'd have ridden straight into the side of my bike and there would have been damage... I doubt he was insured or licensed (as he looked well under-age)... he was very apologetic, but I suspect he did not learn a single thing from that little interaction....  he did have a helmet on tough so he was still smarter than some on this forum !!!! and I'm sure some grade A1 idiot will be along to suggest it made no difference, perhaps even find a reason to blame the farang !!!... 

 

 

[smccolley]

Depends on the situation:

1. On my Wave in my soi - glasses, no helmet, shorts, flipflops

2. On my Wave running around pattaya - glasses, cheap helmet, shorts, flipflops

3. On my big bike running around pattaya - imported Shoei race helmet, jeans, riding gloves and shoes.

4. On my big bike touring - full riding gear even in the heat of summer.

 

I guess I am lazy, I am not spending 20 minutes getting dressed to go to 7 and get a beer, but an all day ride I couldn't imagine not having all the gear on.

[smccolley]

10 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

My helmets are quite expensive...    I take them with me, along with the jacket etc...  and then I'm also hot and sweaty etc.. 

so this contribute the fact that I'm riding less and less these days...   Just to local chores..to play football etc.. (when alone)

If going to a shopping mall or dinner...   its always with the car anyway as I'll be with my Wife (and she's 100% a no-go on the back of the bike - I'll risk myself to a certain extent but not her).

 

 

My wife rides her own PCX around our house, but I made sure to get a single seater big bike. No questions about who is on it. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

10 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The closest I've come to getting knocked off was yesterday...   riding a fairly slow speed on a local soi following other traffic.

A young lad (about 14 at a guess) turning right, from my right, out of a side soi without looking

He's expecting you to be courteous and move over to your left slightly so he can join the lane safely.

 

You're on a bike, you don't need to hog the lane, in Thailand when riding motorbike we share the lane with others.

 

I'm constantly riding from the left to the right of my lane allowing others to share the road with me. 

 

 

 

[MalcolmB]

17 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

The closest I've come to getting knocked off was yesterday...   riding a fairly slow speed on a local soi following other traffic.

A young lad (about 14 at a guess) turning right, from my right, out of a side soi without looking, rode into the rear of my bike.....  Its long astonished me how many will turn without looking and only then react when something is in their way...

Its just odd how there is no self preservation to look and make sure, and then go...   as if stopping is a last resort.

... he hit my numberplate with his let, no damage to him, no damage to my bike other than a very slightly bent number plate (easily bent so no issues).

 

Had I been a second later, he'd have ridden straight into the side of my bike and there would have been damage... I doubt he was insured or licensed (as he looked well under-age)... he was very apologetic, but I suspect he did not learn a single thing from that little interaction....  he did have a helmet on tough so he was still smarter than some on this forum !!!! and I'm sure some grade A1 idiot will be along to suggest it made no difference, perhaps even find a reason to blame the farang !!!... 

 

 

Slow speed so I don’t think your helmet helped much.

 

The problem with farangs is they don’t adapt to the local driving conditions. In Thailand motorbikes turn left at intersections and merge into the traffic. 

if you don’t accept that this is the way it is done here then you will likely cause other accidents and probably kill someone one day.

i hope you learned something yesterday Richard. If you had of killed that young Thai boy the police and the child’s family wouldn’t care one bit what you thought was right. 

[MalcolmB]

7 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

He's expecting you to be courteous and move over to your left slightly so he can join the lane safely.

Correct. 
Manners is something many farangs seem to lack. 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

Slow speed so I don’t think your helmet helped much.

 

Correct - I didn't fall off, neither did the Boy - helmet didn't help - you still seem to fail at the concept of taking precautions though...  something passed down to you through generations I suspect... 

 

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

The problem with farangs is they don’t adapt to the local driving conditions. In Thailand motorbikes turn left at intersections and merge into the traffic. 

 

Rubbish, many foreigners have been driving and riding here for decades - there's a learning curve but its not hard. 

You just hate all foreigners so want to blame everyone else but the Thai's when a mistake occurs.

 

The motorcyclist that clipped me was turning right, from my right, from a smaller sub-soi into the main soi I was riding on - he didn't look or he just pulled out and timed his 'merge' very badly....   thought I'm you'll still find reason to blame a foreigner... 

 

 

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

If you don’t accept that this is the way it is done here then you will likely cause other accidents and probably kill someone one day.

 

The irony of a dunk driver making this statement cannot be understated. 

 

I do agree with you  - when driving here, there is a possibility that I am involved in an accident where someone is injured or killed - thats the risk we take when driving anywhere. We do our best to avoid that, nevertheless, it remains a possibility.

Thats why I am fully licensed, have dash-cams, don't drink drive and follow the traffic laws - it avoids liability, but also I don't want to hurt anyone, so as you pointed out - its important to also adapt and see that other riders and drivers can do anything at any time.... Still, its not always possible to avoid things. 

 

In the car I've been hit twice while stationary - nothing I could about that....    just careless drivers not looking.

 

 

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

i hope you learned something yesterday Richard.

 

What did I learn ? there's always more to learn - There was reenforcement that wearing a helmet remains sensible as any idiot can still ride into you at any time regardless of how we anticipate or ride defensively.

I have also learned from your post that there are extremely dumb people out there, so extra caution is still as important as ever.

 

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

If you had of killed that young Thai boy the police and the child’s family wouldn’t care one bit what you thought was right. 

 

Why wouldn't they ? you don't think the police are capable of being fair and seeing what happend ? I've been here long enough to already know that in these situations the Police have been fair. 

 

I also have dash-cams on the bike and car (FWD and Rear facing).

 

Had that Thai boy been injured, it would have been because he pulled out of a side road into my bike - 100% his fault, without any doubt, it could easily be proven.

Had he been 2 seconds earlier, he would have pulled out into the bike in front of me - I've seen that happen too.

I've seen motorcyclists pull out and drive straight into the sides of cars. 

On an almost daily basis my Wife or I (whoever is driving) will have to brake hard to allow space for a bike to cut in (when they are cutting us off, pulling out in front of us or overtaking us and nipping in through the tineists of gaps with oncoming traffic on a single lane soi).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

Slow speed so I don’t think your helmet helped much.

 

Had I fallen off - it might have helped. 

 

A guy died the other day when he slipped down steps and banged his head....  Before you jump on that with your moronic gas lighting and suggest I am implying we were helemets when at a hotel - thats not my point. 

 

My point is, when riding, there is a greater risk of falling off even at slow speeds - thus wearing a helmet is sensible.

 

Though I understand you may not consider you have much to protect. 

[richard_smith237]

9 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

He's expecting you to be courteous and move over to your left slightly so he can join the lane safely.

 

You're on a bike, you don't need to hog the lane, in Thailand when riding motorbike we share the lane with others.

 

I'm constantly riding from the left to the right of my lane allowing others to share the road with me. 

 

I see that happen too....  but there wasn't space for that...   we were in busy, slow moving traffic on a soi (one narrow lane of traffic in each direction)...     Cars in front moving slowly, two bikes in front of me, one bike to my left...    nowhere else to be.

 

The lad just pulled out without looking - I've no idea why... it happens. 

....     sometimes the other guy is just at fault, no matter how you want to spin it based on forum prejudices.  

 

I see accidents here all the time - someone has done something ridiculously stupid and the other person simply could not avoid it no matter how defensive they were. 

 

----------

 

While driving a few years ago on Rama IV road, we were following a motorcycle, then we saw another motorcyclist suddenly swerve across the road from the left straight into him knocking him flying - the the other lad (who caused the accident picked up his bike and sped off).

We stopped and a few people helped the hurt lad to the he side of the road, we gave the dash-cam footage to the police when they arrived. 

 

I'm sure - if the hurt lad were a 'Westerner' I'm sure there would be comments from some knobs suggesting that it was his fault for not 'adapting'... when all he was doing was riding in a straight line down the road in moving traffic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

9 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

He's expecting you to be courteous and move over to your left slightly so he can join the lane safely.

Correct. 
Manners is something many farangs seem to lack. 

 

Yes... its suddenly impolite to be riding down and having people ride into you !!! -  another golden droplet of grade A1 idiocy from the forum halfwit.

 

I get 'Safety First's' point - but, 'allowing space' for the merging motorcyclist is not always possible on narrow soi's or when traffic is busy and motorcyclists are already doubled up...

.... Its also not very good defensive riding, especially if the bike next to you wants to swerve one way or another, this is a another common cause of accidents.... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

10 hours ago, smccolley said:

My wife rides her own PCX around our house, but I made sure to get a single seater big bike. No questions about who is on it. 

 

The Mrs doesn't know how to ride a bike... has never ridden one - so thats a relief from my side. 

My Son will never get given a bike, never go on the back of mine, and is not allowed to go on the back of any one else's bikes  (he's not close to that age yet anyway - and also his mates are not the sort to be getting bikes either, their parents wouldn't allow them either)....  

[jas007]

If anyone needs an education on this, I suggest they spend a day outside in the hall at the entrance to the emergency room at Pattaya City Hospital.  They seem to have a steady stream of patients in and out with injuries from motorcycle accidents.  And those are the lucky people who don't die at the scene. 

[Chwooly]

Interestingly enough, 1 of the few things I find in the Philippines that is much better then Thailand, I bought a US DOT certified helmet in SM Mall in Philippines for about 1/4 of the price I would have paid here in Thailand for a comparable helmet, Full face with pulldown sun shield. I stupidly accelerated too fast in a water patch and the bike sped out from under me, I was wearing a helmet luckily but still saw stars so now I never ride with out 1. 

[richard_smith237]

48 minutes ago, jas007 said:

If anyone needs an education on this, I suggest they spend a day outside in the hall at the entrance to the emergency room at Pattaya City Hospital.  They seem to have a steady stream of patients in and out with injuries from motorcycle accidents.  And those are the lucky people who don't die at the scene. 

 

I suspect those 'Westerners' who need an education on this are not those who are capable of being 'educated on this' from they are clearly too stupid as they are already aware of the significantly elevated risks of not wearing a helmet, yet ignore it.

 

Meanwhile - it would great to see systems in place where Thai's are better educated about the risks and and everyone on the roads also more strictly policed about helmet wear. 

 

 

[Will B Good]

53 minutes ago, jas007 said:

If anyone needs an education on this, I suggest they spend a day outside in the hall at the entrance to the emergency room at Pattaya City Hospital.  They seem to have a steady stream of patients in and out with injuries from motorcycle accidents.  And those are the lucky people who don't die at the scene. 

 

 

Sadly, it seems some on here would rather risk brain damage, serious injury or death, than be told by a government what might be in their best interests.

 

One might assume they have already suffered a brain injury.

[MalcolmB]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Yes... its suddenly impolite to be riding down and having people ride into you !!! -  another golden droplet of grade A1 idiocy from the forum halfwit.

I have never had an accident it Thailand. And with my defensive driving skills doubt if I ever will.

You have, as recently as yesterday. 
 

The trick here is to be one step ahead and always be prepared.

[richard_smith237]

Just now, MalcolmB said:

I have never had an accident it Thailand. And with my defensive driving skills doubt if I ever will.

You have, as recently as yesterday. 
 

The trick here is to be one step ahead and always be prepared.

 

Hilarious...     drunk driver thinks he has defensive driving skills.....    

 

But... drink driving aside - at least you are consistent in your level idiocy when you 'think' you can prevent someone from driving into you though your own skill... 

 

 

I've also had two cars drive into mine while I'm stationary - I bet you believe you could have avoided those by being one step ahead, prepared and using your defensive driving skills !!!.....       utter numpty !!!! 

 

[novacova]

6 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

I have never had an accident it Thailand. And with my defensive driving skills doubt if I ever will.

Famous last words.

[transam]

7 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

I have never had an accident it Thailand. And with my defensive driving skills doubt if I ever will.

You have, as recently as yesterday. 
 

The trick here is to be one step ahead and always be prepared.

From a drink driver, that must be the daft post of the week.........

Well, done................

Defensive skills.............🤣

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, novacova said:

Famous last words.

 

He's a drunk driver, its a matter of time....  

 

In fact, even without the half-witted Dunning-Kruger effect of being arrogantly stupid and a drunk-driver, an accident can occur the next time we ride or drive.... 

..... its a complete unknown, we can only do our best to ride / drive intelligently, to the conditions, surroundings, local culture while riding defensively....   yet anything can still happen at any time - which is why we wear seatbelts and safety gear... (helmets, gloves, jackets etc)....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rhys]

Good helmet and gloves... essential as well proper boots..

[novacova]

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

an accident can occur the next time we ride or drive

Is why the word “accident” is used and not the phrase “on purpose”

12 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

even without the half-witted Dunning-Kruger effect of being arrogantly stupid and a drunk-driver

Drunk driving is a deliberate act, crashing while driving drunk is not an accident, it’s done deliberately on purpose.

[KireB]

On 12/9/2024 at 5:59 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

The closest I've come to getting knocked off was yesterday...   riding a fairly slow speed on a local soi following other traffic.

A young lad (about 14 at a guess) turning right, from my right, out of a side soi without looking, rode into the rear of my bike.....  Its long astonished me how many will turn without looking and only then react when something is in their way...

Its just odd how there is no self preservation to look and make sure, and then go...   as if stopping is a last resort.

... he hit my numberplate with his let, no damage to him, no damage to my bike other than a very slightly bent number plate (easily bent so no issues).

 

Had I been a second later, he'd have ridden straight into the side of my bike and there would have been damage... I doubt he was insured or licensed (as he looked well under-age)... he was very apologetic, but I suspect he did not learn a single thing from that little interaction....  he did have a helmet on tough so he was still smarter than some on this forum !!!! and I'm sure some grade A1 idiot will be along to suggest it made no difference, perhaps even find a reason to blame the farang !!!... 

 

 

Can be very challenging out there

[MalcolmB]

5 hours ago, transam said:

From a drink driver,

Like most of us on this forum according to a recent poll.

 

Not all of us want to spend all day looking out fake French doors at a fake lake in Outer Issan counting down the final ticks and tocks of the old clock.

[richard_smith237]

18 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Like most of us on this forum according to a recent poll.

 

Not all of us want to spend all day looking out fake French doors at a fake lake in Outer Issan counting down the final ticks and tocks of the old clock.

 

Ah, yes, "most" of the halfwits gullible enough to waste their time indulging in your puerile little troll poll. Truly, a masterstroke of intellectual achievement - if your audience is a forum full of village idiots.

 

The combination of sheer idiocy and arrogance it takes to believe that the drivel-spewers who bothered to respond to your pathetic excuse for a poll somehow represent a meaningful cross-section of Western or foreign society in Thailand is hilarious, as is the idea that you are now quoting the results as some form of valid fact.

 

The poll itself a glaring testament to the gaping chasm in your logic-forming abilities only surpassed by the comical idiocy of your comments referring to said poll.