Had our first motorbike accident.... feel more Thai now

[TheTightArseTraveller]

My Mrs' knees are scarred to the max from motorbike accidents.  Usually pissed and involving buffalo....

Well, after 8 years here, today we had our first 'family' accident (that has ALWAYS terrified me as a westerner) but happy to say all escaped with minimal injuries to parents only.  Snake came along and reared up, Mrs looked at it a bit too long, the dude with the side car in front had stopped..... BANG...

All came off (Mrs, me and 1 year old) but luckily my Mrs is an Asian driver so drives sooooooo sloooooooow it annoys me.  That probably saved our lives... especially our daughter's life.

Funny thing is, I insist we use a 'backpack on the front' style carry harness when she travels on a motorbike with us.  The locals here have never seen one and think we are nuts for sure, but I am 100% positive it helped me protect her today as we all came off.

 

Footnote: Mrs said she has had worse accidents, except the kid being there made it worse.... 

 

The Krasang hospital experience is worthy of it's own post.

 

Cheers all.... Including those about to tell me Im a knob

[ColeBOzbourne]

In my opinion, babies and small children should not be riding motorcycles. It makes me cringe every time I see it.

[TheTightArseTraveller]

21 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

In my opinion, babies and small children should not be riding motorcycles. It makes me cringe every time I see it.

I agree with you, however unless you just stay home at all times, what are you to do?  
we were pretty unlucky.  Between us and the destination we would be lucky to see 5 vehicles….

 

Your comment is super valid though.

[treetops]

23 minutes ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

I agree with you, however unless you just stay home at all times, what are you to do?

 

Drive a car?  Hire a babysitter?

[ColeBOzbourne]

2 hours ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

I agree with you, however unless you just stay home at all times, what are you to do?  

I was in the same position. I went out and bought a small truck. 

[hotandsticky]

Knob..............😉

[Liquorice]

21 hours ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

Funny thing is, I insist we use a 'backpack on the front' style carry harness when she travels on a motorbike with us.  The locals here have never seen one and think we are nuts for sure, but I am 100% positive it helped me protect her today as we all came off.

Thai customs dictate the kids go at the front to act as airbags on motorcycles.
Glad you were all OK.

 

Wife's had a couple of non fault accidents.
Last one, a chap in a car indicating left and going really slow, suddenly decided to do a U-turn.
She had to lay the bike down, which slid and hit his wheel, her slacks and the skin down her leg wasn't as lucky.
Guy opened his door, looked at his wheel and the wife, then drove off without a word.

[TheTightArseTraveller]

3 hours ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

I was in the same position. I went out and bought a small truck. 

Yeah...Its on my especially now.  

[TheTightArseTraveller]

3 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Knob..............😉

touché

[TheTightArseTraveller]

2 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Thai customs dictate the kids go at the front to act as airbags on motorcycles.
Glad you were all OK.

 

Wife's had a couple of non fault accidents.
Last one, a chap in a car indicating left and going really slow, suddenly decided to do a U-turn.
She had to lay the bike down, which slid and hit his wheel, her slacks and the skin down her leg wasn't as lucky.
Guy opened his door, looked at his wheel and the wife, then drove off without a word.

Man thats terrible, but not surprising.  

 

Like I said, where we live there is about 200 people, so passing others on the road is few and far between.  I wouldnt have my kids on the bike in traffic.  But, in any case, accidents happen because <deleted> happens anywhere anytime... Especially in Thailand

[Agusts]

I always see Thai taking small kids on the bike, and wonder if I do it...! But 1 year old is too young and fragile..., be careful a lot more...

 

Lucky the snake didn't come to bite you for good measure....! Always count your blessing....!? 😜 

[connda]

bob smith has a new account I see.

[novacova]

On 7/17/2025 at 4:12 PM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

luckily my Mrs is an Asian driver so drives sooooooo sloooooooow

This is a good thing.

On 7/17/2025 at 4:12 PM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

it annoys me.

Impatience on the road is a real killer 

On 7/17/2025 at 4:12 PM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

and 1 year old

Good grief! Why on earth?!

 

Get a car already.

[fredge45]

On 7/18/2025 at 5:05 PM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

Man thats terrible, but not surprising.  

 

Like I said, where we live there is about 200 people, so passing others on the road is few and far between.  I wouldnt have my kids on the bike in traffic.  But, in any case, accidents happen because <deleted> happens anywhere anytime... Especially in Thailand

You are quite good at making excuses rather than giving any reasons for your foolish actions.  😪

[newbee2022]

On 7/17/2025 at 4:12 PM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

My Mrs' knees are scarred to the max from motorbike accidents.  Usually pissed and involving buffalo....

Well, after 8 years here, today we had our first 'family' accident (that has ALWAYS terrified me as a westerner) but happy to say all escaped with minimal injuries to parents only.  Snake came along and reared up, Mrs looked at it a bit too long, the dude with the side car in front had stopped..... BANG...

All came off (Mrs, me and 1 year old) but luckily my Mrs is an Asian driver so drives sooooooo sloooooooow it annoys me.  That probably saved our lives... especially our daughter's life.

Funny thing is, I insist we use a 'backpack on the front' style carry harness when she travels on a motorbike with us.  The locals here have never seen one and think we are nuts for sure, but I am 100% positive it helped me protect her today as we all came off.

 

Footnote: Mrs said she has had worse accidents, except the kid being there made it worse.... 

 

The Krasang hospital experience is worthy of it's own post.

 

Cheers all.... Including those about to tell me Im a knob

Next time use a car with airbags. It's reckless driving with a one year old toddler on a bike.

No doubt about it.

[rwill]

On 7/18/2025 at 10:24 AM, ColeBOzbourne said:

In my opinion, babies and small children should not be riding motorcycles. It makes me cringe every time I see it.

For many families it is their only transportation.

[ColeBOzbourne]

17 minutes ago, rwill said:

For many families it is their only transportation.

A motorcycle was my only transportation as well. As soon as I found out a child was on the way, I began planning and making arrangements to buy a car. I bought a used car before the baby arrived to avoid ever taking him on the motorcycle.  

[harryviking]

On 7/17/2025 at 11:12 AM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

My Mrs' knees are scarred to the max from motorbike accidents.  Usually pissed and involving buffalo....

Well, after 8 years here, today we had our first 'family' accident (that has ALWAYS terrified me as a westerner) but happy to say all escaped with minimal injuries to parents only.  Snake came along and reared up, Mrs looked at it a bit too long, the dude with the side car in front had stopped..... BANG...

All came off (Mrs, me and 1 year old) but luckily my Mrs is an Asian driver so drives sooooooo sloooooooow it annoys me.  That probably saved our lives... especially our daughter's life.

Funny thing is, I insist we use a 'backpack on the front' style carry harness when she travels on a motorbike with us.  The locals here have never seen one and think we are nuts for sure, but I am 100% positive it helped me protect her today as we all came off.

 

Footnote: Mrs said she has had worse accidents, except the kid being there made it worse.... 

 

The Krasang hospital experience is worthy of it's own post.

 

Cheers all.... Including those about to tell me Im a knob

😄Welcome to the "Club"!!

[ujayujay]

A one-year-old on a motorcycle is highly irresponsible! How old are you?

[IsaanT]

On 7/17/2025 at 4:12 PM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

My Mrs' knees are scarred to the max from motorbike accidents.  Usually pissed and involving buffalo....

Well, after 8 years here, today we had our first 'family' accident (that has ALWAYS terrified me as a westerner) but happy to say all escaped with minimal injuries to parents only.  Snake came along and reared up, Mrs looked at it a bit too long, the dude with the side car in front had stopped..... BANG...

All came off (Mrs, me and 1 year old) but luckily my Mrs is an Asian driver so drives sooooooo sloooooooow it annoys me.  That probably saved our lives... especially our daughter's life.

Funny thing is, I insist we use a 'backpack on the front' style carry harness when she travels on a motorbike with us.  The locals here have never seen one and think we are nuts for sure, but I am 100% positive it helped me protect her today as we all came off.

 

Footnote: Mrs said she has had worse accidents, except the kid being there made it worse.... 

 

The Krasang hospital experience is worthy of it's own post.

 

Cheers all.... Including those about to tell me Im a knob

It sounds like the original poster lives in a rural location.

Riding with a child (or children) on a scooter is normal in quiet rural locations (whether you like it or not).  Using a safety harness for the child on a scooter is very rare so credit where credit is due.
 

[TheTightArseTraveller]

46 minutes ago, IsaanT said:

It sounds like the original poster lives in a rural location.

Riding with a child (or children) on a scooter is normal in quiet rural locations (whether you like it or not).  Using a safety harness for the child on a scooter is very rare so credit where credit is due.
 

Yeah mate, doesn't get more rural than where we are.   Like I said above, passing 5 vehicles on our way to grab a coffee is like peak hour.

[TheTightArseTraveller]

On 7/19/2025 at 2:34 PM, connda said:

bob smith has a new account I see.

Dare I ask whoo'Bob Smith' is????

[Hatari fan]

Congratulations, feel lucky you didn't kill your one year old. 

Driving a motorbike with a one year old obviously without a crash helmet is a act of a child neglect. 

 

[TheTightArseTraveller]

5 minutes ago, Hatari fan said:

Congratulations, feel lucky you didn't kill your one year old. 

Driving a motorbike with a one year old obviously without a crash helmet is a act of a child neglect. 

 

Great point... I will leave her on her own at home next time.  Or maybe chuck her in the buffallo pen would be a bit safer...

[richard_smith237]

50 minutes ago, IsaanT said:

It sounds like the original poster lives in a rural location.

Riding with a child (or children) on a scooter is normal in quiet rural locations (whether you like it or not).  Using a safety harness for the child on a scooter is very rare so credit where credit is due.
 

 

Don't want to rag on the Op - but what you have described is perhaps more prevalent amongst the uneducated or those without any funds....   and for some families, taking the infants on their motorcycle is their only transportation. 

 

The Op is very lucky and I'm glad his child has come to no harm, but as a Westerner, surely he is educated to the risks...  As the Op pointed out below - "what are you to do ?"...    

 

Can he not get a cheap car ? ( a banger )... even that would be better than a motorcycle, surely ?

On 7/18/2025 at 10:47 AM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

I agree with you, however unless you just stay home at all times, what are you to do?  

 

 

On 7/18/2025 at 5:05 PM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

Man thats terrible, but not surprising.  

 

Like I said, where we live there is about 200 people, so passing others on the road is few and far between.  I wouldnt have my kids on the bike in traffic.  But, in any case, accidents happen because <deleted> happens anywhere anytime... Especially in Thailand

 

Very much so, just bad bit of road, a pot hole, a dog, a snake, another kid on a bike etc... 

 

Op.. I'm glad you are all ok...   But as soon as taking an infant or child on a bike becomes the norm, the risk of grave danger escalates significantly - even if its a 5 year old - at least get a solid helmet, but you can't get helmets for babies... 

 

Mistubishi Mirage: 110,000 baht... 

https://www.one2car.com/for-sale/mitsubishi-mirage-glx-กรุงเทพและปริมณฑล-กาญจนาภิเษก/17437333

 

 

[richard_smith237]

18 minutes ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

Great point... I will leave her on her own at home next time.  Or maybe chuck her in the buffallo pen would be a bit safer...

 

Were you taking her to the local hospital for a check-up ??? 

 

Or, were you going to the local market or doing something one of you could have done on your own ???

 

i.e. was it essential that you all went together as a family of three ?...     

 

You're getting a lot of flack, and rightly so - but if you are listening to any of this then you may realise the next time you make a choice not to take your 1 year old daughter on the motorcycle when its not truly necessary, might be the time her life is saved....

 

(the only time I can think it could be necessary is when there is a medical emergency and you just have to get to a hospital or clinic quickly)

[newnative]

You picked the right AN moniker. 

[Keeps]

3 hours ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

Dare I ask whoo'Bob Smith' is????

Nah, don't ask. It's not a compliment. Ignore it. 

[Stuck in Thailand]

3 hours ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

Dare I ask whoo'Bob Smith' is????

 

He is a legend, a myth. He's Bob Smith.

 

I hope he's OK out there.

[Keeps]

On 7/17/2025 at 10:12 AM, TheTightArseTraveller said:

My Mrs' knees are scarred to the max from motorbike accidents.  Usually pissed and involving buffalo....

Well, after 8 years here, today we had our first 'family' accident (that has ALWAYS terrified me as a westerner) but happy to say all escaped with minimal injuries to parents only.  Snake came along and reared up, Mrs looked at it a bit too long, the dude with the side car in front had stopped..... BANG...

All came off (Mrs, me and 1 year old) but luckily my Mrs is an Asian driver so drives sooooooo sloooooooow it annoys me.  That probably saved our lives... especially our daughter's life.

Funny thing is, I insist we use a 'backpack on the front' style carry harness when she travels on a motorbike with us.  The locals here have never seen one and think we are nuts for sure, but I am 100% positive it helped me protect her today as we all came off.

 

Footnote: Mrs said she has had worse accidents, except the kid being there made it worse.... 

 

The Krasang hospital experience is worthy of it's own post.

 

Cheers all.... Including those about to tell me Im a knob

You didn't do anything different to what millions of Thais do every single day. That's not saying it's right but it's certainly common here. People will have a dig at you because you are a farang, you should know better? Maybe so? However, don't beat yourself up about it. Seemed to be a very unfortunate accident, no general recklessness. 

 

Glad everyone escaped pretty unscathed.