Report Pattaya Motorbike Drivers Protest Strict Helmet Law Fines

[Kerryd]

2 June, the day after the crack down started, I took 2 different moto taxis. Neither one had a spare helmet for a passenger at all.

I was carrying a spare skid lid as I was going to the shop to get my bike and I wore it because I KNEW if the cops stopped the moto-taxi guy, I'd be the one getting the fine even though HE didn't have a spare helmet at all.

(Turns out the bike wasn't ready so I took a different moto-taxi home and same thing - he  didn't have a spare helmet for a passenger at all.)

Once a few of them get fined and word gets around, they'll all be carrying a spare helmet - or they won't doing any business at all.

[phil2407]

Caught off guard with the new fines - feeble excuse been in circulation for months & being moto taxi drivers you should know!!!!

as for those passengers refusing to wear helmets (for hygiene reasons) buy some shower caps - charge them 1 or 2 baht more than it costs then no excuse 

if they still refuse on a helmet let them walk or get bus / taxi proper

[kevden]

I'm weary of motorcycle taxi riders accepting jobs and not having a helmet available for the hirer. Some have their own helmet, others none. It's a basic bit of safety equipment, not expensive (relative to the cost of motorbike) and not difficult to carry for them. If the hirer refuses to wear one, the rider can decline to let them on the bike. 

[FlorC]

Laws like helmed or seatbelt should not be enforced.

This is for your own personal protection , if you take the responsibility

to not use them , it is your choice.

 

Besides , cars have airbags.

 

These 2000 B fines are way over the top too.

I went through oranje light , they say red , 500 B paid.

[rwill]

21 hours ago, edwinchester said:

"Many claim to have been caught off guard, only learning of the law after being hit with hefty fines."

 

Thais having no idea of the helmet law? Laughing my big fat hairy farang a** off. Biggest  bee ess claim of the day so far.

They know of the law.  But the fine has changed from 500B to 2,000B.  That's what they are unaware of.

[QPRFC]

Most of the people I know in Pattaya don't know if they are coming or going anyway!

[impulse]

13 hours ago, it is what it is said:

13 hours ago, watchcat said:

Sorry about that, let them die then cant afford a sheap helmet sell your mobile phone then.

indeed. priorities.

 

Speaking of priorities, I'd prefer that the BIB spend more effort enforcing the laws that protect innocent people.  Like riding on sidewalks, blowing through red lights, speeding like a demon...

 

The only people at risk from not wearing a helmet are the ones that make a decision to not wear a helmet.  We're all at risk when Speed Racer blows down the sidewalk at breakneck speed.

 

Helmet scofflaws are just low hanging fruit.

 

[treetops]

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Violators of this rule are now facing fines up to 2,000 baht, with the penalty doubling to 4,000 baht if a passenger is caught without a helmet.

 

Not according to the graphic issued by the police.

 

[Cat Boy]

A simple plastic sleeve that would cover the head between the passengers skull and the helmet would remediate any shared helmet issues. 

 

And unfortunately head injury survivors and for obvious reasons, the dead who already did not survive motorcycle collision, were unable or unavailable to stage a counter-protest

[Gandtee]

If those who are worried about wearing someone else's helmet and they use motorbike taxis often, why not carry a plastic bag or shower cap that they can fumigate and reuse?

[spidermike007]

A person who rides a motorbike for a living not wearing a high quality helmet is beyond comprehension, and one of the most ridiculous things a person could possibly do. For them to compound this by complaining about the need to wear a helmet is just beyond ridiculous. These ninnies simply need to be ignored and their protests mean less than zero. 

[Yellowtail]

Why should people have to wear a helmet if they don't want to? 

[nick supreme]

12 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Why should people have to wear a helmet if they don't want to? 

 

They can choose to talk to the destination instead of ridding. 

[Yellowtail]

1 minute ago, nick supreme said:

 

They can choose to talk to the destination instead of ridding. 

Ridding themselves of what? 

[Grusa]

1 hour ago, nick supreme said:

 

They can choose to talk to the destination instead of ridding. 

Well, that IS an interesting answer!

[VBF]

3 hours ago, treetops said:

 

Not according to the graphic issued by the police.

 

I would suggest that at least the first 25 of those "violations" is how people in Pattaya drive regularly.

I do think that the wearing of helmet / seat belt should legally be up to the individual - i.e. the one likely to get injured, but I also think it's stupid not to wear them as appropriate.

 

As for the wearing of "shared" helmets, I used to carry a baseball cap if I was going to use a motorcycle taxi and ask for a helmet to put on top of it. Having said that, I hate bikes of any sort, but now there's Bolt so those days have gone.

 

[NedR69]

I don't think fines for not wearing helmets will noticeably reduce the fatalities (despite the positive reports that will come).

 

Many Thais and some Foreigners don't wear a helmet; it's only resting on their head.  Motorcops included.   Some don't even bother fastening it correctly or any at all. Worthless in both cases -  they could be sitting still on motorbike and fall over and the helmet most likely to fall off easily - worthless, kinda like that gov't education.

[NedR69]

4 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Why should people have to wear a helmet if they don't want to? 

 

It's a law.

[Yellowtail]

1 minute ago, NedR69 said:

 

It's a law.

Sorry. Why should there be a law compelling people to wear helmets if they don't want to? 

 

 

[NedR69]

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

Sorry. Why should there be a law compelling people to wear helmets if they don't want to?

 

 

I don't know but I'll play your silly game.  Why should there be a law compelling people to wear helmets if they don't want to?

[Ratman]

be happy with the new law...could save your life

[Yellowtail]

5 minutes ago, NedR69 said:

I don't know but I'll play your silly game.  Why should there be a law compelling people to wear helmets if they don't want to?

I don't think there should be. 

[mancub]

Is insurance (assuming any) valid if not wearing a helmet ?

[Magictoad]

The moto sai boy 90% wear helmets as do plenty of other Thais here in Pattaya....

[AustinRacing]

I’d like to see expats in pattaya fined double the fine. Pissing me off seeing old farts riding bikes with no helmet. Almost guaranteed they’d wear them in their home country ie they know better than the local Somchai. 

[Lancelot01]

On 6/3/2025 at 12:57 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thai's just don't like wearing helmets. 

 

I bought my girlfriend a new helmet, she refuses to wear the bloody thing. 😂

 

 

On 6/3/2025 at 12:57 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thai's just don't like wearing helmets. 

 

I bought my girlfriend a new helmet, she refuses to wear the bloody thing. 😂

 

Will she be paying her own fines? 

[The Old Bull]

On 6/3/2025 at 3:57 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thai's just don't like wearing helmets. 

 

I bought my girlfriend a new helmet, she refuses to wear the bloody thing. 😂

 

 

On 6/3/2025 at 3:57 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Thai's just don't like wearing helmets. 

 

I bought my girlfriend a new helmet, she refuses to wear the bloody thing. 😂

 

It messes up their hair and they can't use their phone.

[Jake72]

I live in Surin now, in a small town 45 minutes outside the main city, only about 5% of the motorcycle riders wear a helmet here and the police doesn't care. Whenever there is a checkpoint I'm happy to pull over to show my license and insurance, but they always wave me on. During my 25+ years in Thailand I've never been pulled over or asked to show my passport/drivers license. 

[jacko45k]

15 hours ago, phil2407 said:

Caught off guard with the new fines - feeble excuse been in circulation for months & being moto taxi drivers you should know!!!!

as for those passengers refusing to wear helmets (for hygiene reasons) buy some shower caps - charge them 1 or 2 baht more than it costs then no excuse 

if they still refuse on a helmet let them walk or get bus / taxi proper

Now carrying your own shower cap as an occasional M/C taxi user is not a bad idea.  Doubles up as an alternative to carrying an umbrella for the odd rain shower too. 

[SenorTashi]

Where I live, none of the motorbike taxi drivers wear helmets.

Every few months I leave the country and take a bike taxi to the mrt, which is half a mile away. I'm not going to buy a helmet and carry it with me to anther country.