Accident Thailand's Grim Motorcycle Death Toll Sparks Helmet Campaign

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, ChrisKC said:

same culture of irresponsibility

 

One of the main reasons I hate this country.....Its "culture".

[jchfriis]

8 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

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 ??😳

I was just gonna say that the authorities should take a trip to Vietnam and get the blueprints from them about how to solve this problem.

[dallen52]

Its the law. 

For everyone, not just farang because they can pay the fine.

(Usually cash and no receipts)

 

Its been said so many times before and to be honest they are like Lemmings rushing into the rivers to drown.

 

Ok, sanity check time. 

 

Helmet must be worn. Its the law.

Multiple people on a bike. NO

Kids 4 on a bike. NO. 

Side cars attached to a bike and Granny in a plastic chair. NO.

Loud exhaust systems. NO.

Lights on bikes. YES.

Stopping at traffic lights. YES.

Stop at pedestrian crossing. YES.

Actually having a licence to drive. YES.

Registration and insurance. YES.

Someone else taking licence test. NO.

Giving way. YES. 

Use indicators. YES. 

Stopping at an accident. YES. 

Brand new bikes sold without registration or insurance.  NO.

 

There's a definite pattern here.!!

See where I'm going?

 

250,000 "active" police sat in little offices phones in hand. 

You are lucky to see a police officer at night.

Even harder to get one to attend. 

 

Time for serious changes. 

 

 

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

How about real riding lessons, a real qualifying test and mandatory helmet wearing.

Instead of the nonsensical riding test, voluntary helmet wearing and a police force that doesn't force anything.

 

[G Rex]

I live in rural Kanchanaburi.  Driving into the city on Wednesday this week, I was amazed to see that at least 3/4 of riders WERE WEARING helmets.   

Maybe the message is getting through?  Most of the riders not wearing lids were school kids (who don't have a licence ....(and probably no insurance either) ).

Out in the sticks, where I am, nothing changes.

[newbee2022]

1 minute ago, dallen52 said:

You are lucky to see a police officer at night.

Only in a bar. Drinking or drunk already 😂

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Only in a bar. Drinking or drunk already 😂

 

I have never seen a police officer working, in fact, I have no idea what they do all day, if anything.

[dallen52]

1 hour ago, alfredwilliams said:

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

Lucky if they have mirrors. 

As for manoeuvres.

Its a last second decision. 

Undertake  

Overtake. 

Drive on pavement. 

Drive on wrong side of the road 

 

[CygnusX1]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

Although I’m certain that it’s an excellent idea for bike riders to wear helmets, this 84% is meaningless unless accompanied by general statistics on the number of riders, including those not in accidents, who wear helmets. 

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

 

One of the main reasons I hate this country.....Its "culture".

Why are you here, if you hate it so much?

[Grusa]

I have always wondered at the lengths people go to avoid wearing a helmet..... when they actually have one, be it ever so crappy, on board!

Carry in the hand

Carry in the same hand as the cigarette, and/or phone,

Hang it off the handlebar, or a hook, or almost anywhere,

Stuff it under the seat, if it's possible

Give it to the passenger/s to carry (along with their own if any)

Stuff your through and wear it like an armband

 

The easiest and most comfortable way to carry the damn thing is, guess what? On your head. (Correctly, with the strap fastened, not with your eyes below the chin guard, if it's a full-face model!).

 

Then there's the camouflage. Make it look like something else.

Bunny Rabbit ears

Alien antennae (aka cable ties or tie wraps)

US army helmet

Nazi helmet

Skinhead/Hells Angel skull cap

Jockeys hard hat

Contractors hard hat

 

Some of these are not safe, and any may invalidate any financial claims arising from an incident.

 

Why not wear the thing openly, and advertise the fact that as a rational being, you accept that hitting things with an unprotected head carries the risk of serious and lasting damage to your life!

[Lacessit]

16 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

Although I’m certain that it’s an excellent idea for bike riders to wear helmets, this 84% is meaningless unless accompanied by general statistics on the number of riders, including those not in accidents, who wear helmets. 

A person not wearing a helmet is 3 times more likely to die or be incapacitated in the event of an accident.

 

You are confusing statistics and probabilities.

[Moonlover]

56 minutes ago, G Rex said:

I live in rural Kanchanaburi.  Driving into the city on Wednesday this week, I was amazed to see that at least 3/4 of riders WERE WEARING helmets.   

Maybe the message is getting through?  Most of the riders not wearing lids were school kids (who don't have a licence ....(and probably no insurance either) ).

Out in the sticks, where I am, nothing changes.

That is actually fairly typical, even before this current campaign started. It's the same when I venture into Sakon Nakhon from where I live. They don a helmet when they think they might get caught.

 

A couple of commuters from our village will carry their helmet until they reach the main road or the city outskirts and then they'll stick it on their heads!

 

And as it's been stated many times, most M/C accidents that result in deaths occur on rural roads, where the speeds are higher resulting more serious consequences.

 

Hey and guess what. I don't recall seeing a policeman in or around our village in 8 years!

[lordgrinz]

13 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Why are you here, if you hate it so much?

 

Wife and daughter are here, believe me, if it were up to me.....I would leave this <deleted>hole forever and never return.

[DUNROAMIN]

No police enforcement accross the nation, all will be forgotten in a month or two.

[Surasak]

"The financial burden of treating these injuries totalled 7.827 billion baht, with motorcycle-related injuries responsible for 80% of these costs."

That is a lot of cash, so one has to assume it is the cash amount, driving this helmet awareness campaign? It certainly doesn't appear to be in concern for the motorcyclist. 

The rainy season contributes to at least 20% of these 'accidents', because of the state of the roads. Riding in the rain is an art in itself, but having to dodge POTHOLES, or be thrown off because of them, is the responsibility of the local government. At least 50% of the problem is down to the serious lack of rider training, the responsibility of the main government. And the last 30%? Laid squarely at the feet of the police. Why! Well we all know they are about as much use as BOOBS ON A FISH!

I could go on, but the dent I was intent on making in the brick wall, is not working as planned. 

[wensiensheng]

18 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. 

Ok, helmets are certainly part of the equation. They help reduce injuries from accidents.

 

But, they do NOT reduce accidents and that is what also requires immediate attention.

 

The grim reality is that neither helmets nor accident prevention measures will be implemented with any consistency or longevity.

 

The motorcycle Russian roulette will continue for the foreseeable future and I have to say, as I advance in years, the overall level of road danger whether in a car, on a motorbike or on a bicycle, is becoming an increasingly bigger factor on how much time I spend in Thailand or whether I spend any time at all here.

[ujayujay]

Unfortunately, there are many more than 14,000 motorcyclists dead. The statistics only include those who died immediately. Subsequent deaths in hospital are not included in the statistics. Yet, there are still morons who don't want to wear helmets!

[CygnusX1]

30 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

A person not wearing a helmet is 3 times more likely to die or be incapacitated in the event of an accident.

 

You are confusing statistics and probabilities.

Yes, but my point was that this was not stated in the article. If 84% of people hospitalised weren’t wearing a helmet, but 95% of riders on the roads weren’t wearing helmets, then that would mean that wearing a helmet would make you more likely to be hospitalised in an accident. I’m sure that’s not the case, but you must quote both stats before you start calculating probabilities.

[whitfield]

I'm fine Buddha looks after me.  It'll never change.

[gejohesch]

18 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  ...... 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. 

100% agree. I used to ride a 650cc Honda years ago, mainly in Bangkok. I also made a few trips on the bike to Isan and down all the way to Prachuap Khiri Khan. I used to be weary of other drivers in Thailand before, when driving a car, but my anxiety on the road jumped up several notches when going on the bike. Reckless driving is unfortunately very common in Thailand.

 

In any country, there would be at least 4 lines of approach to reduce the number of severe accidents:

1 - Be much more stringent with issuing driving permits, with more focus on correct ways of driving, and especially defensive driving for 2 wheels driving. ...... Oh well, did I mention "focus"??? 

2 - More effective police presence on the roads, with zero tolerance on any sort of bad driving.

3 - Zero tolerance on not wearing a helmet when on 2 wheels, regardless whether doing the driving or being a pinion passenger.

4 - Regulate the type of helmets. No tolerance for all those cheap and crap helmets....

 

In any country but.....

[mberbae]

Why is it that Any report on the dangers of motorcycle driving in Thailand NEVER, NEVER

mentions non working tail lights at night ?  How many of us have suddenly come upon a

dark clothed motorcycle driver who was almost impossible to see until the last few seconds ?

THAT is just as dangerous if not More so.  Those not wearing helmets only hurt themselves.

Non working tail lights can involve innocent drivers - who most likely will be footing the bill.

[connda]

Thailand's Grim Motorcycle Death Toll Sparks Helmet Campaign

 

Thailand's grim motorcycle death toll sparks ฿฿฿฿฿ in the minds of government officials and becomes the proximate cause for a new revenue collection campaign.  

There, fixed it. 

[connda]

19 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

And many foreigners come here thinking "how much trouble could I get in on a little scooter, on a tropical island"?

"How much trouble could I get in on a little scooter that I've never rode before and for which I've never had any training and for which I don't have a motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license at home."

[pomchop]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

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 ??😳

Viet Nam sure figured it out as it is rare to see anyone without a helmet there.  How many lives have been saved there over the past decades?  A LOT.  How much money has been saved by hospitals from not having to treat nearly as many serious head injuires or care for injured people for decades. 

 

Every year or two out come the same old stories of deaths in Thailand and very little enforcement of helmet laws.  Then lot of media articles about how it has to change. Then many people saying it is a personal choice conveniently forgetting all the personal and monetary loss to take care of people who refuse to at least semi protect their heads. How many thai families end up taking care of maimed sons/daughters for decades?

 

It really really needs to change.  I remember at a public high school up north ten years ago that the govt sent lots of big signs saying wear a helmet which were hung all around the school and along the roads leading into the school.  Then of course along come most of the teachers and many of the cops riding along with no helmets.  Followed by  motorbike after motorbike  with 4 students riding with not a helmet in sight.

[Lacessit]

48 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

Yes, but my point was that this was not stated in the article. If 84% of people hospitalised weren’t wearing a helmet, but 95% of riders on the roads weren’t wearing helmets, then that would mean that wearing a helmet would make you more likely to be hospitalised in an accident. I’m sure that’s not the case, but you must quote both stats before you start calculating probabilities.

Correct. However, in my area it seems to be about a 50:50 helmet/no helmet ratio.

 

I am pretty sure the probabilities would be even more damning if some helmet data was culled, because I can't see a Japanese war helmet offering decent head protection.

[kiwikeith]

19 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. 

I invite the Police and any govt minister to come and stand at the front of our shop ,where motor bikes scream past every 2 minutes usually with noise making mufflers  and speeding with no helmets, it seems that the ones on the noisy bikes are young men, then there is the trucks whizzing by at high speed also with loud mufflers every five minutes, the road is narrow with 2 tight mirrored bends you have to really be careful as idiots come around them in the middle off the road, its complete madness and 90% are ignoring the helmet warning.

School kids speeding down the rd. with no helmets and to young to even have a license, then there's the bikes loaded with babies, come on govt come on police take up the offer.

Two bikes have gone down in the last week, lucky no serious injury, they were very lucky, one was pissed and did not want the police to attend , a pickup hit him and took off , its complete madness, Mike as you said.

[FolkGuitar]

Wearing a helmet does not prevent accidents. Period. 
Police intervention on the scene prevent accidents, but it requires police on the roads stopping dangerous drivers. That’s dangerous for the police. 
 

Helmets do  help prevent fatalities but TO THE RIDER ONLY, and at no danger to the cops.  

But this coincidentally also saves the government millions of Baht in unpaid hospital and funeral costs. 
 

Which goal is really being sought?

[Ironmike]

The police here are a joke the only time they are working is to pull over Farangs to shake them down for money as regarding the helmut deal well what's the good of wearing a 300 baht or $10 helmet made in china as the person's head hits the ground and the helmut goes through their skull. 

[JoeRan]

20 hours ago, JoePai said:

Do not waste your breath, the locals will not listen  

The locals? Look at all the farangs that don’t wear them! If you were to ask them why they don’t, their answer is if the Thais don’t wear them, then I don’t have to. Stupidity at its finest.