Accident Thailand's Grim Motorcycle Death Toll Sparks Helmet Campaign

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

In an urgent appeal, Thailand's Department of Disease Control (DDC) has called on all motorcyclists to wear helmets, following a devastating year of road casualties. Over 14,000 people lost their lives in motorcycle accidents across the country in 2024 alone. The sheer scale of these deaths highlights an enduring crisis on Thailand's roads, necessitating immediate intervention.

 

Statistics from three government agencies paint a worrying picture of road safety. From 2020 to 2024, an average of 17,428 people died annually in road traffic incidents, with motorcycles involved in a staggering 80% of these fatalities. The figures for 2024 were particularly dire, with 17,447 road deaths recorded, of which 14,144 were linked to motorcycle accidents. On average, this means three people died every two hours, a tragic and preventable loss of life.

 

Dr Panumas Yanawetsakul, the DDC's Director-General, presented these figures, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety measures. A crucial part of this initiative is promoting helmet use, as the majority of these fatal incidents involve riders not wearing proper protective gear.

 

The economic impact of these accidents is equally significant. Data from the Health Data Centre of the Ministry of Public Health indicates that in 2022 alone, more than 1.06 million people sought treatment for road accident-related injuries. This included 212,271 as inpatients and 848,295 as outpatients. The financial burden of treating these injuries totalled 7.827 billion baht, with motorcycle-related injuries responsible for 80% of these costs.

 

Adding to the tragedy, Deputy DDC Director-General Dr Anek Mungomklang revealed that a staggering 84% of motorcyclists hospitalised between 2020 and 2024 were not wearing helmets during their accidents. This statistic highlights the clear link between helmet use and survival rates in motorcycle crashes.

 

The DDC's renewed call for helmet use is more than just a recommendation; it's a plea to save lives and reduce the overwhelming strain on healthcare resources. By adopting protective measures like wearing helmets, Thailand can take significant steps in mitigating the human and economic toll of road accidents. With such a compelling case for safety, the campaign aims not only to change behaviours but ultimately to preserve lives on the country's bustling roads.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-06-05

 

 

[spidermike007]

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 (the best one you can afford), 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 and Koh 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.

 

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 within the last decade or so. 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, he can walk, but with a limp, and the leg caused him constant problems, many years later. 

[JoePai]

Do not waste your breath, the locals will not listen  

[blaze master]

I wonder what percentage of the incidents occurred in Pattaya.

[quake]

More masks on bikes and less crash helmets.

Darwin is watching over them.

 

[transam]

12 minutes ago, quake said:

More masks on bikes and less crash helmets.

Darwin is watching over them.

 

Wearing a mask on a bike is a very good idea, as I replace my car A/C filter myself, I see the crap bikers will be dealing with on a daily basis...🤔

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Waste of eggs!

[ChrisY1]

Looked upon as nonsense speak....even the cops don't care....it's been this was for decades!

[chricha]

I have seen for myself in Bangkok, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok etc. how few people wear helmets while riding.

I have a suggestion to reduce this horrendous road toll.

It would be cheaper for the Government to give all riders a helmet.

Then start fining them 500 baht if they don't wear one when they stop at traffic lights

[Big Bert]

Some idiot on Facebook yesterday said he not allow his 2 boys to wear helmets as they will get bullied at school. Also he has survived 3 head injuries from accidents so it ok.

This is the mind set they are dealing with.

[Thumbs]

Nothing will change except the cost of a police 20% tip goes up from 100 baht to 400 baht, I seriously don't know why thailand has to make things so difficult. If police were simply to to fine and then impound every bike until rider returns with a helmet people would quickly start wearing a helmet rather than the 5km walk home. Problem is these checks are carried out in the towns while the countryside remains like the wild west. I drove 20 km into town and back at dusk/night counted 165 bikes with lights but then 145 with one ore more lights not working 

[lordgrinz]

I like to see things in a more positive light, it's good population control, thinning the herd can be beneficial. If people wish to break the laws and drive recklessly, let them pay the ultimate price, let Darwinism work it's magic.

[alfredwilliams]

When people in thailand understand MSM..   giving a signal does not give you prrmission to manoeuvre, the two wheelers will come a cropper

[alfredwilliams]

3 minutes ago, Thumbs said:

Nothing will change except the cost of a police 20% tip goes up from 100 baht to 400 baht, I seriously don't know why thailand has to make things so difficult. If police were simply to to fine and then impound every bike until rider returns with a helmet people would quickly start wearing a helmet rather than the 5km walk home. Problem is these checks are carried out in the towns while the countryside remains like the wild west. I drove 20 km into town and back at dusk/night counted 165 bikes with lights but then 145 with one ore more lights not working 

Need full body armour

[alfredwilliams]

16 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

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 (the best one you can afford), 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 and Koh 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.

 

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 within the last decade or so. 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, he can walk, but with a limp, and the leg caused him constant problems, many years later. 

Maybe it is nature's way of culling...

[impulse]

16 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

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 (the best one you can afford), 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 and Koh 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.

 

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 within the last decade or so. 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, he can walk, but with a limp, and the leg caused him constant problems, many years later. 

 

You cross the safety Rubicon when you throw a leg over a scooter instead of buckling up in a car.

 

Helmets are just a band-aid.

 

Your friend who nearly lost his leg...  How would a helmet prevent that?  OTOH, over a ton of steel would have.

 

[NorthernRyland]

They'll find a way to kill themselves even with helmets. You can't fix stupid.

 

 

[Chongalulu]

The thought process that concludes with no need to wear a helmet demonstrates that there is little in there worth protecting anyway.

And cheap helmets for cheap heads...

[FolkGuitar]

Question:  Is the goal to improve road safety? Or only stop motorcycle/scooter rider fatalities?

A helmet can reduce the number of motorcycle accident fatalities, but does absolutely NOTHING to reduce unsafe driving conditions caused by unskilled, unthinking, and uncaring individuals who CAUSE accidents that kill riders without helmets in the first place!

Actually putting cops on the roads to stop these poor drivers may help.

[spidermike007]

29 minutes ago, Big Bert said:

Some idiot on Facebook yesterday said he not allow his 2 boys to wear helmets as they will get bullied at school. Also he has survived 3 head injuries from accidents so it ok.

This is the mind set they are dealing with.

It's pretty sad thing when you put saving face over the safety of your children. Who cares what other people think of you, and why such spectacular personal weakness and such incredibly low self-esteem? Where does that come from? 

 

A parent should be teaching them the opposite, a progressive intelligent parent should be teaching them how little face means, and how safety is more important than something incredibly trivial like what other people think of me. 

[spidermike007]

5 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

Question:  Is the goal to improve road safety? Or only stop motorcycle/scooter rider fatalities?

A helmet can reduce the number of motorcycle accident fatalities, but does absolutely NOTHING to reduce unsafe driving conditions caused by unskilled, unthinking, and uncaring individuals who CAUSE accidents that kill riders without helmets in the first place!

Actually putting cops on the roads to stop these poor drivers may help.

Good points. Perhaps more focus should be put on teaching people how to drive properly and teaching people how to show respect for other drivers, which does not seem to be an inherent aspect within this society.

 

It's quite fascinating because in general I find Thai people to be quite fond and respectful of each other, but you put them behind a wheel in a car or a motorbike and all that seems to go out the window, all their values seem to disappear when behind the wheel. What is that all about? 

 

I think one of the biggest issues is that just they just does not seem to be much of a deterrent, the police might be serious about fining people for not wearing a helmet this week, but next month that will all be forgotten.

 

If they were capable of keeping records a 500 baht fine for a first offense, a 2000 baht fine for a second offense, and confiscation of the bike permanently for a third offense.

 

You can't get it together to wear a helmet, you lose your bike. Game over. 

[Alan55]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

In an urgent appeal, Thailand's Department of Disease Control (DDC) has called on all motorcyclists to wear helmets, following a devastating year of road casualties. Over 14,000 people lost their lives in motorcycle accidents across the country in 2024 alone. The sheer scale of these deaths highlights an enduring crisis on Thailand's roads, necessitating immediate intervention.

 

Statistics from three government agencies paint a worrying picture of road safety. From 2020 to 2024, an average of 17,428 people died annually in road traffic incidents, with motorcycles involved in a staggering 80% of these fatalities. The figures for 2024 were particularly dire, with 17,447 road deaths recorded, of which 14,144 were linked to motorcycle accidents. On average, this means three people died every two hours, a tragic and preventable loss of life.

 

Dr Panumas Yanawetsakul, the DDC's Director-General, presented these figures, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety measures. A crucial part of this initiative is promoting helmet use, as the majority of these fatal incidents involve riders not wearing proper protective gear.

 

The economic impact of these accidents is equally significant. Data from the Health Data Centre of the Ministry of Public Health indicates that in 2022 alone, more than 1.06 million people sought treatment for road accident-related injuries. This included 212,271 as inpatients and 848,295 as outpatients. The financial burden of treating these injuries totalled 7.827 billion baht, with motorcycle-related injuries responsible for 80% of these costs.

 

Adding to the tragedy, Deputy DDC Director-General Dr Anek Mungomklang revealed that a staggering 84% of motorcyclists hospitalised between 2020 and 2024 were not wearing helmets during their accidents. This statistic highlights the clear link between helmet use and survival rates in motorcycle crashes.

 

The DDC's renewed call for helmet use is more than just a recommendation; it's a plea to save lives and reduce the overwhelming strain on healthcare resources. By adopting protective measures like wearing helmets, Thailand can take significant steps in mitigating the human and economic toll of road accidents. With such a compelling case for safety, the campaign aims not only to change behaviours but ultimately to preserve lives on the country's bustling roads.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-06-05

 

 

The locals won't abide by the law, they have zero understanding  of road safety, the police don't enforce this law properly or at all only for the tea money. There is no road safety education in the schools, parents don't ensure their underage kids without license or insurance, riding bikes 3 or 4 up all without helmets are dressed properly safely, all the motorbikes and riders coming out of school driving past policement controlling the traffic never ever wear helmets despite the new increased fines. What else can be done in such a risky environment if no one listens?

[FolkGuitar]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I think one of the biggest issues is that just they just does not seem to be much of a deterrent, the police might be serious about fining people for not wearing a helmet this week, but next month that will all be forgotten.

 

If they were capable of keeping records a 500 baht fine for a first offense, a 2000 baht fine for a second offense, and confiscation of the bike permanently for a third offense.

 

You can't get it together to wear a helmet, you lose your bike. Game over. 

 

One question is really is about their goals. As you say, they push helmets for a week, then forget about them. Pay your fine and go do it again.
There is ZERO incentive for drivers in a hurry to slow down. No reason for a driver to stay in their lane, signal lane changes, or heed warning signs. Why not pass on a blind curve or the crest of the hill? Why not cut inside someone's turn?
There are no police on the roads stopping this behavior. And it's this behavior that causes the accidents, not the bare head of a rider.

[lordgrinz]

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Good points. Perhaps more focus should be put on teaching people how to drive properly and teaching people how to show respect for other drivers, which does not seem to be an inherent aspect within this society.

 

It's quite fascinating because in general I find Thai people to be quite fond and respectful of each other, but you put them behind a wheel in a car or a motorbike and all that seems to go out the window, all their values seem to disappear when behind the wheel. What is that all about? 

 

I think one of the biggest issues is that just they just does not seem to be much of a deterrent, the police might be serious about fining people for not wearing a helmet this week, but next month that will all be forgotten.

 

If they were capable of keeping records a 500 baht fine for a first offense, a 2000 baht fine for a second offense, and confiscation of the bike permanently for a third offense.

 

You can't get it together to wear a helmet, you lose your bike. Game over. 

 

I think they need a new campaign, one where they callout the people who disobey the laws of their country and King. They should be shamed in front of others for their misdeeds, remind them whose name is signed to the top of the Traffic Act. Then hit them with the 112 law when they choose to ignore those very laws his majesty has signed off on.

[spidermike007]

37 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

You cross the safety Rubicon when you throw a leg over a scooter instead of buckling up in a car.

 

Helmets are just a band-aid.

 

Your friend who nearly lost his leg...  How would a helmet prevent that?  OTOH, over a ton of steel would have.

 

While some of what you're saying is true many of us love riding motorbikes, so we wear as good a helmet as we can afford, and we drive as safely as we can possibly drive, which means driving very defensively and maintaining a safe speed. 

[lordgrinz]

5 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

 

One question is really is about their goals. As you say, they push helmets for a week, then forget about them. Pay your fine and go do it again.
There is ZERO incentive for drivers in a hurry to slow down. No reason for a driver to stay in their lane, signal lane changes, or heed warning signs. Why not pass on a blind curve or the crest of the hill? Why not cut inside someone's turn?
There are no police on the roads stopping this behavior. And it's this behavior that causes the accidents, not the bare head of a rider.

 

They believe in fate, not safety. Which explains their every move, you'd be more likely to sell them more Amulets before convincing them of the safety merits of helmets or proper driving education.

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

While some of what you're saying is true many of us love riding motorbikes, so we wear as good a helmet as we can afford, and we drive as safely as we can possibly drive, which means driving very defensively and maintaining a safe speed. 

 

I found it fruitless here in Bangkok, I gave up the Big Bike, not worth the risk.

[newbee2022]

16 hours ago, JoePai said:

Do not waste your breath, the locals will not listen  

They will!! As they listened eg in Vietnam. Or do you think Thais are stupid if it comes to pay a fine of 2000 Baht ??😳

[ChrisKC]

And so it goes on!!

 

In 22 years of living here in a few parts of Thailand, a whole generation and more has grown up with the same culture of irresponsibility and couldn't care less" by those you could have simply done their jobs!

 

Unless the "Campaign" starts now - is all over Thailand, all day, every day, for the next five years, nothing will change.

 

And the Government will make tons of money!!

 

And save lives!

 

Yes, I know, I will be writing it all again next year!

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Or do you think Thais are stupid

 

**no comment**