Report Thai Police Launch Helmet Crackdown to Boost Road Safety

[kiwikeith]

16 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

The laws are already on the book, but they aren't enforced. The lack of care here is astronomical and that won't change anytime soon, or ever. 

 

Like others have mentioned in other posts, a high ranker loses a child or relative it might change things. 

 

Helmets are a cheap way to definitely save lives here. It's up to the people first and not the officials. They wear helmets and abide by that law, they're helping themselves, but the only way this will happen is if it's enforced immediately. No excuses from anyone, as it's already a law. 

 

Poor people lose money it teaches them a lesson, especially after a second offense. If you can afford a motorbike you can afford a helmet. If you wear a helmet just so you aren't fined, and let your children be passengers without one, you plainly don't give a sh*t.

That's the problem all round. 

[kiwikeith]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pictures courtesy of Thairath

 

Thailand’s police are intensifying efforts to reduce traffic accidents by launching a nationwide Road Safety Project this Sunday, 1st June, with a focus on strict helmet law enforcement. Offenders will face substantial penalties, with fines reaching up to 2,000 baht, and doubling if a motorcyclist's passenger is not wearing a helmet.

 

Police Lieutenant General Nitithorn Jintakanon, who oversees the Police Education Bureau, shared today that Police General Kraibhun Trawadsong, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, has instructed all police units to implement helmet laws rigorously. This initiative is part of a broader campaign aimed at enhancing traffic discipline and minimising road accidents across Thailand.

 

The project will spotlight high-traffic roads, accident-prone areas, and vicinities near schools and universities, pushing for full adherence to Section 122 of the Land Traffic Act. This law requires that both motorcyclists and their passengers wear helmets at all times for safety.

 

Authorities will target regions with frequent traffic violations, employing educational drives and increased patrols to ensure compliance. The police plan to collaborate with local governments, schools, and private entities to bolster road safety awareness and culture.

 

Pol. Lt. Gen. Nitithorn articulated the initiative's aim: “The goal is to prevent accidents and create a safer environment for everyone on the road. We want all road users to follow the laws and set a good example for future generations.”

 

The Royal Thai Police urges the public to cooperate and report any suspicious activities or incidents through the Traffic Police Hotline at 1197 or the Highway Police Hotline at 1193, available 24/7.

 

As the campaign prepares to launch, officials are delivering a strong message: helmet laws will be strictly enforced, and failure to comply will incur immediate and severe penalties. Motorcyclists and passengers are advised to wear helmets consistently, or risk facing fines that could have significant financial implications.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-27

 

 

Just a thought, schools will be closed Sunday 

[J Branche]

Sorry, I just spit out my coffee laughing so much.

 

I have an idea, take all the fines from the foreigners and buy helmets to give out at checkpoints.  If it is 2000 baht it will do some Thais more harm than good and means they will have to chose between food and clothes for their kids.

 

Better to set up a Gofundme page and use the money to buy helmets.

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, anchadian said:

So a family of 4 on a motorcycle will all require to wear a helmet.

25% compliance

 

I think these municipal workers are immune to laws of physics

 

another crackdown by the Chubby Police Force, gonna be funny to watch them waddling after offenders.

[FolkGuitar]

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

True, but wearing helmets definitely saves lives. You can break any bones in your body and live but you hit your head, even at moderate speeds, you're usually dead or sustain brain injuries.

Obviously, very true. I ride every day, and I'd never ride without one.
But is the government's goal to save 'one' life... or reduce total road fatalities and injuries?

 

I don't think that's going to happen by just setting up a table on a street corner to catch the occasional rider without a helmet. That might save the rider's life, but do nothing for the accidents caused by the nutter cutting off other drivers, passing on blind curves, and ignoring traffic lights.

Here's an idea: Get out on the roads and stop the insane drivers! Putting a helmet on the head of a tourist might save HIS/HER life, but does nothing for the rest of the community. And isn't THAT who the police should be protecting?

[Xinkburn]

Great to see. Offer each police officer 100baht of the fine and see the results.  Especially around universities 

[thailand49]

I've got nothing against helmet something is better than nothing but I guess focusing on helmets is easier than BIB learning the rules of the road and it's proper execution. Give it a week then back to normal I wonder the fuss each year around the same time is when WHO provides millions by now over 20 million USD a year to help fit the programs but nothing changes. Maybe they should rethink instead of more improve or less for nothing improves.🤔

 

[Patong2021]

I bet if someone were to check the archives of the old Thai Visa Forum, they would fine similar campaign promises  a decade ago.

[Grusa]

Forget fines. Impound the bike.  Instantly, and permanently.

[mikebell]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This initiative is part of a broader campaign aimed at enhancing traffic discipline and

shamed into being by the farangs giving out free helmets the other day whilst the inactive police stood by, grinning at the foolishness of the exercise.  (Remember the fat cop in the video?)

[Quentin Zen]

I just drive with about five crisp 500 baht notes. I drive by, handing them the 500 politely without stopping, and zoom off.

 

helmet crackdown means it's time to pay the mia noi.    i want to help them out.   

 

Now, if they made the fine of 10,000 baht, I'd be ordering the carbon, tank-modified, super-ventilated helmet.   

 

being on a motorbike is the worst decision anyone can make who has enough money to avoid being on one.  death traps.  if it's your passion and you are super skilled, Thailand still isn't the place.  hate me all you want, risks don't outweigh the benefit IMO

[dutch boy]

3 hours ago, anchadian said:

So a family of 4 on a motorcycle will all require to wear a helmet.

Will NEVER happen, and we all know it.

How about a family of 10?

[sambum]

Should they not have been doing this, like, for EVER???

[Cat Boy]

Why must it always be a "crack down". 

 

Crack downs last for a couple of days, at best, if at all, then everything continues as if it never occurred. 

 

Continuous, rigorous, ongoing enforcement of already existing laws and regulations does not seem to part of the zeitgeist of governance. 

[NoMoonLogistics]

Woke crap. Beta male stuff. Democrat vibe-voting virtue signalling. Far left 'Merica haters. Marxist ANTIFAists too... obviously.

 

Never seen a Trump supporter sensible enough to wear a helmet in my life.

[Photoguy21]

Need to increase driving standards as well. Most adopt the attitude of pointing the bike in the general direction and then going as fast as they can to get there.

[sambum]

42 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

I bet if someone were to check the archives of the old Thai Visa Forum, they would fine similar campaign promises  a decade ago.

 

Happens periodically!

 

Also periodical statements regarding overstayers:-

 

 Friday, 7 July 2023, 14:16"Within the next three months, the number of overstayers should be reduced to zero, as they are more likely to engage in criminal activities, which can adversely affect Thailand’s tourism industry, Pol. Lt. Gen. Pakphumpipat said."

(Note the date!!!)

[paul1804]

How long will this "supposed" crackdown last I wonder, I guess once the RTP have a few thousand baht in their pockets they will retreat to the station until the next major crackdown which we know is just a pathetic attempt at improving road safety so the authorities can say they are addressing Thailands world status road fatalities!

[sambum]

32 minutes ago, dutch boy said:

How about a family of 10?

Wonder what other hobbies he has?

[paul1804]

2 minutes ago, sambum said:

Wonder what other hobbies he has?

What a classic!!

[sambum]

1 hour ago, FolkGuitar said:

Obviously, very true. I ride every day, and I'd never ride without one.
But is the government's goal to save 'one' life... or reduce total road fatalities and injuries?

 

I don't think that's going to happen by just setting up a table on a street corner to catch the occasional rider without a helmet. That might save the rider's life, but do nothing for the accidents caused by the nutter cutting off other drivers, passing on blind curves, and ignoring traffic lights.

Here's an idea: Get out on the roads and stop the insane drivers! Putting a helmet on the head of a tourist might save HIS/HER life, but does nothing for the rest of the community. And isn't THAT who the police should be protecting?

 

Another frustrating ocurrence that happens to me regularly - rider's indicator flashing as if to indicate a right turn, and then they turn LEFT!

 

Also a big problem - no back lights on many bikes.

[DUNROAMIN]

What number crackdown is this? I think is No 999 crackdown with no effect.

[AustinRacing]

BIB need more money. The 500 fine resulting in 200 cash hand out will increase to 2000 resulting in 500-1000 cash hand out. Times are tough. 

[FolkGuitar]

Open Letter to those who think Police Helmet Checkpoints are set up mainly for farang:

 

We're in Thailand's Rainy Season. 

Comparatively few foreigners here right now, but NOW is when they are running their helmet campaign.
It's true, they DO catch a lot of foreigners not wearing helmets when the foreigners are here. We notice them more than we notice the Thais lining up to pay the same way we 'notice' signs written in our own language without thinking about it, but have to look and actually pay attention when the sign is in a different language.
We 'see' the farangs. We don't 'look' for the Thais.

[FolkGuitar]

14 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

What number crackdown is this? I think is No 999 crackdown with no effect.

That's because it's not a crackdown. Never has been.

It's nothing more than a visual display that the police exist.

[metisdead]

A post with an oversize trolling emoji has been removed. 

[LennyW]

This should be normal, not a crackdown, along with fines for those with illegal/noisy exhausts and ones with mirrors removed - newsflash kids, that is not cool!!

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand’s police are intensifying efforts to reduce traffic accidents by launching a nationwide Road Safety Project this Sunday, 1st June, with a focus on strict helmet law enforcement. Offenders will face substantial penalties, with fines reaching up to 2,000 baht, and doubling if a motorcyclist's passenger is not wearing a helmet.

How does wearing a helmet reduce traffic accidents...?

Reducing injuries I can understand.

[Joseph98765]

just in case....I will invest in helmet stock market....I can see the shares of this companies going up from 1st of June...5555

[impulse]

I'd rather see them focus on the violations that put other (innocent) people at risk.  Like riding down sidewalks, blowing red lights, unsafe passing, etc. 

 

Protecting people from themselves is a fool's errand.  Cops should protect the rest of us.