Australian Teen Dies in Koh Samui Motorbike Collision

[1happykamper]

In my twenties I traveled to places like Greece and Yugoslavia... renting a moped. I remember a burn on my calf from a hot muffler very well. 

 

I had zero clue how to ride.. and I was riding on gravel roads! Crazy me. I'm sure my mind said that... Well everyone knows I'm on holiday and the locals in other vehicles will watch out for me and be careful with me" 5555. So basically... Invincible! Stupid thinking... But I don't think I was alone in that thinking 50 years ago 

 

RIP young man. 🙏

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Can't blame the roads this time, it was a reckless motorbike rider without a helmet that basically killed himself.

 

Your compassion is really quite underwhelming.

[kwilco]

6 hours ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

there will never be the proper legislation,

The legislation is there - enforcement is grossly inconsistent. 

But do we know what happened?

Was he licenced to ride?

Did he know?

What was the road like?

How fast?

Sadly there will never be a proper scientific road crash report and it will be left to supposition and cynical response by the prejudiced and ignorant.

 

[kwilco]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Can't blame the roads this time, it was a reckless motorbike rider without a helmet that basically killed himself.

 

so why did the crash occur?

[kwilco]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

he 19-year-old reportedly tried overtaking a vehicle without a helmet and lost control.

 

This is an unacceptable analysis of what happened - it is conjecture and explains nothing.

[Ajarnbrian]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

As posted elsewhere:

 

Many of us drive motorcycles or scooters here, and it is dangerous getting on the roads with some of these other drivers. Getting on a scooter, or a motorcycle anywhere in Thailand, much less Phuket, Phangan, Dark Tao, or Samui without a very good helmet, or alot of riding experience, is like playing Russian Roulette with three or four bullets in the chamber. It is absolutely asking for problems. The degree of recklessness here is astounding. And many foreigners come here thinking "how much trouble could I get in on a little scooter, on a tropical island"? Well, the answer is alot.

 

The amount of foreigners who are killed on the Southern islands is staggering. Most are not reported in the media. I had a friend who worked for Samui rescue for many years, and said the numbers were about 30-60 a month, on Samui, Phangan Phuket and Dark Tao. The official number is about 3 a month. Rider beware. Use as good a helmet as you can afford, and do not use these eggshells pieces of crap. They crack at the first impact, and what lies underneath them? Your skull, which is very delicate.

 

I have been riding bikes for 49 years. Without any serious accidents. A few minor ones over the years. Riding a bike here is very dangerous. If not the highest, one of the highest fatality rates in the world. And an accident here can be very costly, to your person.  Just ask yourself- do I have enough problems already, without a broken skull, or smashed head, or face injury, or lost eye?

 

I have three friends who have been in motorbike accidents on Samui. One still cannot walk, or talk or function on her own, from a motorbike accident, where she hit her head on the pavement going only 20 kph. The other one has lost alot of his mental capacity after hitting his head. He insisted for years he would never wear a helmet. Now, he seems 15 years older. The third one is a close friend, who was hit by a sidecar, and nearly lost his leg. 11 operations later and after spending many millions of baht, he can walk, but with a limp, and the leg has caused him constant problems, many years later. 

Wise words. All those tempted to ignore motorcycle safety for holiday fun, please, please read, think and remind your mates.

[Peterphuket]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

I went to Koh Samui last winter for the first time during peak tourist season and rented a motorbike for 5 days. It's not that bad except for some really nasty traffic in the city. You see the dangerous people doing stupid things like racing to pass across on narrow roads. It's actually very easy to avoid if you just slow down and take your time. More dangerous than a car but it's not a death sentence by any means.

The problem is, you don't have to do it yourself, someone else will do it for you.
Then you can drive so safely yourself, but it can still go wrong.

[jas007]

2 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

In my twenties I traveled to places like Greece and Yugoslavia... renting a moped. I remember a burn on my calf from a hot muffler very well. 

 

I had zero clue how to ride.. and I was riding on gravel roads! Crazy me. I'm sure my mind said that... Well everyone knows I'm on holiday and the locals in other vehicles will watch out for me and be careful with me" 5555. So basically... Invincible! Stupid thinking... But I don't think I was alone in that thinking 50 years ago 

 

RIP young man. 🙏

Back in the USA, when I was just 15 years old, the laws were such that a kid could rent a motorbike.  A little 50 cc Honda or whatever. Anyway, all you needed was a learner's pernit license and a little cash and you could rent a motorbike.  We did that a few times. We didn't think about helmets.  And we didn't even try to be careful.  I'm sure I'm extremely lucky to be here right now. 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

7 minutes ago, kwilco said:

The legislation is there - enforcement is grossly inconsistent. 

But do we know what happened?

Was he licenced to ride?

Did he know?

What was the road like?

How fast?

Sadly there will never be a proper scientific road crash report and it will be left to supposition and cynical response by the prejudiced and ignorant.

 

 

 

 

Why have you truncated my comment to take it out of context  ? I said “there will never be the proper legislation, or enforcement of it”

 

 

[eastlight]

17 minutes ago, Ajarnbrian said:

Wise words. All those tempted to ignore motorcycle safety for holiday fun, please, please read, think and remind your mates.

Scooter? What's that?

[khunPer]

Unfortunately on Samui, many young foreigners – assumed to be mainly tourists – drives around on motorbikes without any protection, including no helmet, and takes huge risk by driving fast and overtake in a traffic culture they might not fully understand.

[Badrabbit]

54 minutes ago, roo860 said:

Which of course a tourist won't spend their money on.

But they will spend a fortune on getting drunk, makes no sense.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The 19-year-old reportedly tried overtaking a vehicle without a helmet and lost control.

Just another statistic... no one cares.

[GreasyFingers]

2 hours ago, Can samui said:

I was just out and about on Samui today in my truck and could only shake my head at the wanna-be racer boys and the obvious first timers. The statistic numbers dont surprise me at all.

Most Thai riders have been on scoots since they were in diapers so they get it for the most part, sadly cant say the same for visitors. One genius was riding slowly in the middle of the lane and when I gave him a polite "excuse me" toot on the horn he flipped me the bird, lad was lucky it wasnt a short fused local he flipped off.

Yes mate. I holidayed in Samui for 5 years before moving there and buying a bike. I had been riding them since I was sixteen but thought it better not to ride in Samui until familiar with the roads and traffic there. Still dropped the bike a couple of times due to loose gravel on the road but made sure I did not hit anything.

[barmatt]

Young and reckless, we've all been there doing stupid things thinking we're invincible. RIP

[proton]

Suicide by bike, up to him, but these reckless idiots put others at risk so don't deserve any of that compassion and empathy nonsense

[proton]

1 minute ago, barmatt said:

Young and reckless, we've all been there doing stupid things thinking we're invincible. RIP

 

I have not, most have not

[spidermike007]

4 hours ago, Badrabbit said:

No helmet brings consequences, what is wrong with people, so what if its hot,  wear a crash helmet protect your head.

Most people don't seem to understand just how delicate the skull is, if it cracks open it can lead to all sorts of problems. Even if your skull doesn't crack open from an accident just hitting your head in the wrong place can result in either instant death or lifelong incapacities of multiple sorts. So prior to getting on your bike without a good, solid helmet, just ask yourself one thing. Is my life complicated enough without a brain injury? 

 

Riding a motorcycle without a very good helmet is the height of insanity, in my opinion. Especially in Thailand and even more so on the Southern Islands, which likely have the highest fatality rate in the world for motorcycle accidents. 

[kwilco]

18 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Most people don't seem to understand just how delicate the skull is, if it cracks open it can lead to all sorts of problems. Even if your skull doesn't crack open from an accident just hitting your head in the wrong place can result in either instant death or lifelong incapacities of multiple sorts. So prior to getting on your bike without a good, solid helmet, just ask yourself one thing. Is my life complicated enough without a brain injury? 

 

Riding a motorcycle without a very good helmet is the height of insanity, in my opinion. Especially in Thailand and even more so on the Southern Islands, which likely have the highest fatality rate in the world for motorcycle accidents. 

Motorcycle helmets are estimated to be between 35 and 40% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists.

People are also unaware of how helmets work to safe your life.

In this case no=-one would argue against wearing a helmet - we don't know if it would have saved him though. THat can't be proven because their will be no proper crash report.

What needs to be answered too, is HOW and Hy the crash occurred and what factors were involved to start the accident and did not prevent serious injury.

[qwab32]

RIP young man.  I live on Samui and the way people drive here is crazy.  The main road is like a racing circuit at times..so dangerous. 

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

 

 

Why have you truncated my comment to take it out of context  ? I said “there will never be the proper legislation, or enforcement of it”

 

 

because it is incorrect. Do you have anything to add? or do you have no realargument?

[kwilco]

3 minutes ago, qwab32 said:

RIP young man.  I live on Samui and the way people drive here is crazy.  The main road is like a racing circuit at times..so dangerous. 

That is a totally unhelpful comment, it just shows you are a bad driver.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, Rickman66 said:

Hopefully your next 

His next what?

[kwilco]

8 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

That number is greatly understated.

Thailand only counts those people who die at the roadside - like this poor lad.

When the victims die in the ambulance, at the hospital or elsewhere, it is not counted as a road death.

RIP Carlos.

Rubbish - you are just promulgating the myths of the ignorant. You need to look at who com[piles the road safety stats before talking ill-informed nonsense like that.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Chris BKK said:

Think of the investment made by governments in Australia into this young man's life - child support payments, medical, education etc, All gone before taxes paid in return, simple economics.  

What the huh?

[rattlesnake]

4 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

RIP, way too young.

In my 20 years there I avoided riding on motorbikes, the roads are just too dangerous to be on 2 wheels.

 

Proper motorcycle training + defensive driving + certified full-face helmet = small chance of having a serious accident, even in Thailand.

[PB172111]

57 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Just another statistic... no one cares.

Unless you are part of the lads family.

R.I.P

[rattlesnake]

32 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Most people don't seem to understand just how delicate the skull is, if it cracks open it can lead to all sorts of problems. Even if your skull doesn't crack open from an accident just hitting your head in the wrong place can result in either instant death or lifelong incapacities of multiple sorts. So prior to getting on your bike without a good, solid helmet, just ask yourself one thing. Is my life complicated enough without a brain injury? 

 

Riding a motorcycle without a very good helmet is the height of insanity, in my opinion. Especially in Thailand and even more so on the Southern Islands, which likely have the highest fatality rate in the world for motorcycle accidents. 

 

Agree, people just don't realise what will happen to their head in case of an impact, even at low speed.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Can samui said:

and the obvious first timers.

Every bike rider, without exception, was an "obvious first-timer", once, weren't they (including you if you ride a bike), no need to disparage them.

[Liverpool Lou]

42 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

 

Riding a motorcycle without a very good helmet is the height of insanity, in my opinion.

Have you never, not once, ridden your bike without a helmet, anywhere, regardless of the length of the ride or the circumstances?