Report Thai Police Launch Helmet Crackdown to Boost Road Safety

[Negita43]

Excuse my cynicism will it decrease motorcyclists injuries or increase something else?

[MarkBR]

5 hours ago, quake said:

To much fuss is  made over helmet laws.

Who cares if they smash there heads open. ( kids should be mandatory at all times. )

They need to tackle the other issues.

Running red lights.

Driving up the carriageway the wrong way.

Speeding.

Drunk driving.

The list goes on.

The helmet crack down is an easy lazy target option.  

 

 

An easy option that will save many lives

[quake]

3 minutes ago, MarkBR said:

An easy option that will save many lives

 

yes,  of course it won't

They won't use the crash helmet the next day.

Ever seen Thais with a crash helmet on the handle bars. 

They only have one to put on when the cops are about.

 

All just a dog and pony show. 

 

[black tabby12345]

Thai Police Launch Helmet Crackdown to Boost Road Safety

 

Ideal slogan to enlarge traffic cops' wallet.

When the fine is paid on the spot(without official receipt), 40% concession is offered(eg B500->300)

 

 

 

 

[Peterphuket]

19 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

And while the falang is getting fined on Pattaya Beach Road, the regular locals putt by with 4 or 5 aboard, all without lids🙃🙃

That is the infamous 2 price system and is applied to a bit of everything.
But yes, being a farang, you just don't get used to it.

[Tubulat]

15 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Maybe they can start to give a good example and wear a helmet too instead.... I often see policemen on a motorcycle without one

Do you know the maxim: Do as I say, but not as I do

[Chongalulu]

20 hours ago, ChipButty said:

The quality of the helmets need to be looked at, 

Cheap helmets for cheap heads..

[Negita43]

Several years ago when I was teaching at a University I could see many of my students not using helmets so I found a video (from Vietnam) which at the end showed a young girl with brain damage. I was not allowed to show it by the University bosses as it might upset the students!!!!

Helmets are not just about the police stopping people it's about educating thne in the first place!!!!

[WHansen]

7 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

It isn't a law. It's just something that happens here, where the locals are favored in accidents without video evidence. I just favor people on motorbikes wearing helmets to protect them and the 2-4 passengers they have.

I have heard stories about this and invested in a dash cam with front and rear cameras for my Xmax to be on the safe side.

[dingdongrb]

7 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I saw a helmetless motorcyclist this morning blow through a STOP sign while staring at his phone in his left hand, this was right in front of a traffic cop.....so I'd say this is nothing more than a photo op for the RTP, no real change will ever happen.

That cop apparently didn't get the memo or have the 2 years of training required to identify a helmet-less person on a scooter.

[dingdongrb]

3 hours ago, quake said:

 

yes,  of course it won't

They won't use the crash helmet the next day.

Ever seen Thais with a crash helmet on the handle bars. 

They only have one to put on when the cops are about.

 

All just a dog and pony show. 

 

Also to add, how many times do you see someone wearing a helmet but it's not strapped on?

 

 

[fredwiggy]

10 minutes ago, WHansen said:

I have heard stories about this and invested in a dash cam with front and rear cameras for my Xmax to be on the safe side.

Always best to cover your back in a foreign country.Happened to me. Someone crossed into my lane coming in the opposite direction and clipped my right front end. He was with his wife and young kids,no one else around, called police, went to station, explained things, I paid.

[WHansen]

Anyone who is familiar with risk assessments knows Personal Protective Equipment is the last form of protection and does not make the task (riding in Thailand) safe.

As has been mentioned already, the dangers need to be addressed at source. Proper training, good maintenance, safe riding attitudes and proper law enforcement to name a few.

[impulse]

7 minutes ago, WHansen said:

As has been mentioned already, the dangers need to be addressed at source. Proper training, good maintenance, safe riding attitudes and proper law enforcement to name a few.

 

Or my favorites, 2 tons of steel and seat belts for those of us who can afford them.  20-40x less dangerous per km than riding a scooter.

 

I can't change Thai driving habits.  I have neither the right, nor the ability.  I can just protect myself from them.

 

[mikebike]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

Or my favorites, 2 tons of steel and seat belts for those of us who can afford them.  20-40x less dangerous per km than riding a scooter.

 

I can't change Thai driving habits.  I have neither the right, nor the ability.  I can just protect myself from them.

 

Yep, swaddle yourself, baby.

 

63 now. Most of it spent on 2 wheels in many countries.

 

Would not spend more time in a cage (car) than I absolutely have to.

 

Life is already too short not to enjoy every moment.

[dinsdale]

This occurs monthly on or just after people get paid.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, mikebike said:

Yep, swaddle yourself, baby.

 

63 now. Most of it spent on 2 wheels in many countries.

 

Would not spend more time in a cage (car) than I absolutely have to.

 

Life is already too short not to enjoy every moment.

 

I hope you're not one of the posters we lose, like we have lost several over the years.

 

I've got no issues with folks who choose scooters for economic reasons or personal preference.  I ride scooter taxis all the time for that last mile.  And I do other activities that some would characterize as "risky".   I just hope we do it with knowledge of the risks of our choices. 

 

BTW, before anyone gets mad at me, scooters are what we call any motorcycle.  Even those with 454 Chevy engines.

 

[impulse]

8 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

I think these municipal workers are immune to laws of physics

 

Did Big Mike finally kick him to the curb?

 

 

 

[thrilled]

To me what don’t make sense is the dad he’s driving he will wear a helmet. His son or daughter sitting behind him on the moped isn’t wearing one. I would figure the grown up would have a helmet on the kid before he put a helmet on his self

[Jiggo]

Basically at Thai Policeman told me when I was pulled over, he stops all nationals except Thais.

[LJHoward]

On 5/27/2025 at 4:56 PM, fredwiggy said:

Pay a percentage of the fines collected to the public that reports violations and you'll see a huge change, but the only problem there is that you'll have to hire thousands of operators to handle the calls. But it will save lives in the long run, especially if you up the fines to repeat offenders. This would require having all drivers on a nationwide computer system like the US.

Good luck with that. Still think it should be a personal choice. If some wants to kill themselves or their non-wearing children & babies they are carrying their choice. Keeps the population numbers down. 

[LJHoward]

Just now, LJHoward said:

Good luck with that. Still think it should be a personal choice. If some wants to kill themselves or their non-wearing children & babies they are carrying their choice. Keeps the population numbers down. 

What we do not want to see is the police going after the foreigners only who they think have money. Go after everyone. All they have to do is put two motorcycle coos at each street signal, they will make their quota for the month. 

[cardinalblue]

So the whole crackdown is nothing but raising the fine from 500 to 2000 baht?

 

what have they doing the last 20 years? Thailand is still at the top for motorcycle deaths and injuries in the world every year

 

there is no comprehensive program  involving early education and training in school or part of DMV efforts or community outreach programs  

 

their whole program is to raise the penalty to the equivalent of starting fires…and we know how ineffective that has been 

 

the rains will clean up the air pollution but will have the opposite effect of riding in the rain and wet/flooded streets 

[Pompeygeezer]

12 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Unlikely. And how would that work, video evidence etc? Thais are largely apathetic, don’t like snitching (rightly fear of retribution) and the police wouldn’t have the resources or be bothered even. The helmet hullabaloo comes around regularly, as does the license thing, but rarely makes a dent and people go back to norm. 

Thais don't like snitching???  are you having a laugh. Thais can't wait to grass each other up

[Pompeygeezer]

I've always wanted to know.....if they pull a motorbike taxi driver over that has a passenger who isn't wearing a helmet does the passenger get fined or the taxi driver?

[grubman]

So the campaign will finish on the 2nd June due to lack of interest or to much hard work for the RTP.......

[still kicking]

17 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Seems much about money?  Lower tourist numbers not as many on bikes?

 

I am for safety, but except for children I think wearing a helmet should be discretionary.  If people want to risk their life it is hurting no one but themselves.  Should be up to them.

Helmets Safety is paramount. Wearing a helmet isn’t just a good idea; it’s the law in most states for e-scooters and e-bikes. Protect your noggin!

[pomchop]

6 hours ago, LJHoward said:

Good luck with that. Still think it should be a personal choice. If some wants to kill themselves or their non-wearing children & babies they are carrying their choice. Keeps the population numbers down. 

and who will pay the hospital bills to care for half dead people for years??  or should they just throw them out and let them die to keep populations numbers down?  bit more complicated then personal choice....

[ChipButty]

So, only 2 people on the bike need a helmet? There is a big school down the road from me, I think I'll go and stand outside and watch all the kids going home riding bikes with no helmets sometimes 3 or 4 on the bike, and the police standing there watching, And no insurance. 

[FolkGuitar]

17 hours ago, Jiggo said:

Basically at Thai Policeman told me when I was pulled over, he stops all nationals except Thais.

A policeman told you this…

 

On 5/28/2025 at 10:04 AM, Quentin Zen said:

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

Thanks for the laughs, guys. Kudos for originality.