23 minutes ago, karonbeach said:

stupid,at 29 years old,it is cheap to have insurance

Have you ever collected on a travel policy? I don't mean "have you ever bought one?" I mean collected.

I had a medical emergency a few months back in Bangkok, and not only was I required to pay up front and then beg for reimbursement, I'm still fighting to get that reimbursement. In fact, of the half dozen times I've made claims on travel policies over the past 30 years or so, I have yet to get reimbursed. Not once. They always have a reason not to pay, and hiring a lawyer to press the claim is more than the amount.

21 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

well, she is a model and an English teacher.....................

Yes, will rush out to send my Thai kids to learn English from a Russian....55555.

Pretty certain I saw this woman in Rawai two weeks ago on a big bike, no helmet.

I was , wow hot, but that bike weighs more that she does, and she's gassing it?. Bad recipe.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Western tourists are 8x more likely to die on holiday in Thailand than in the EU.

Perhaps due to lack of money for rental bike😂🤣

4 hours ago, blaze master said:

Think bigger.....

Fire the entire thai police force. Have an outside governing body come in to help reestablish a new one. Old officers can interview for their old job back. A probation period to follow based on job performance. Strict guidelines and rules to be put in place. The whole process would probably take upwards of a decade or so to really be solidified.

A public education campaign like we have had in the west. Example madd for drinking and driving. Also real education and training for drivers is desperately needed.

Strict enforcement and penalties for drivers not following the rules. With actual consequences for disobedience. Ie revoking driving privileges and jail terms for repeat and serious offenders.

All of this however would require a big cultural shift which I don't think is possible to be honest. I first went to thailand in 2003 and not much at all has changed in regards to this subject.

I know I know .....ill show myself out for such nonsense.

Did this not happen in Hong Kong, once upon a time?

22 minutes ago, Priorexpat said:

Pretty certain I saw this woman in Rawai two weeks ago on a big bike, no helmet.

I was , wow hot, but that bike weighs more that she does, and she's gassing it?. Bad recipe.

That sounds about right. Just see her in the below video hanging out of a car window while filming herself:

https://www.the-sun.com/news/16164566/model-fights-for-life-after-motorbike-crash-thailand/

3 hours ago, smedly said:

many wear helmets not fit for purpose, it's not just about wearing helmets

There was a guy recently filmed riding in northern Phuket wearing a soup pan on his head.

Ya, som nam naa, really....

4 hours ago, TedG said:

The solution is large fine for not wearing a helmet.

That won’t work as long as the police are corrupt, if an offender is arrested, they will always try to negotiate first, and given the police officer’s low salary, they’ll be bribed in no time.

As a government, you need to start by giving police officers a decent salary.

17 minutes ago, Priorexpat said:

There was a guy recently filmed riding in northern Phuket wearing a soup pan on his head.

Ya, som nam naa, really....

He’s a member of the Pastafarian sect – nothing out of the ordinary, he’d just forgotten his colander.

You would think that having a mother as a doctor she would make sure she had it, but as they say, you can lead a horse to water…not wearing a proper helmet is just plain stupidity. Hopefully she at least had a license. Sad case either way.

The only way to survive here on the road, is to be patient, have eyes in the back of your head, drive with caution, and always, and I mean always watch out of the other guy. Chances are, he does not have much driving skill, nor patience, nor reason, nor common sense. You cannot be too careful on the road here. Especially considering that the toy police offer no traffic safety, prevention, enforcement of the law, or concern toward the prosecution of very reckless drivers. 

Those of us with driving skill, and a strong desire for not only survival, but the avoidance of terrible injury, are constantly scanning the road, in front of us, beside us, and behind us. There are an exceptionally high number of reckless fools on these roads, and it is the only way to preserve our lives, and those of our families, and friends, who may be driving with us, and depending on us. 

If riding a motorbike, only do so if you have many years of experience. Especially on the southern islands, where huge numbers of foreigners leave Thailand in a wooden box. Wear the best helmet you can afford. And drive like a grandmother. This applies to ex-pats too. Bring along an international drivers license. This helps you to avoid being fleeced by the local police franchisee.

Getting on a scooter, or a motorcycle anywhere in Thailand, much less Phuket, Phangan, Dark Tao, or Samui without a very good helmet, 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 over 30 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.

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

This is wrong.... Foreign nationals face no greater danger in Thailand than any other nation.

Its when they choose to take chances and 'do things' they would not do in other nations - like riding around Bali, Cancún, Lanzarote etc without a license or a helment...

The report didn't state the poor injured lady didn't have a motorcycle license or wasn't wearing a helmet - but - well, its a fairly obvious guess.

100% agree - Insurance cover should be an entrance requirement - includedin the price of a visa.

Visa Exempt on Arrival... Sure keep it the same - just pay xxx baht entry fee - thats the insurance.

All of that, plus it is a “thing” for scantily clad nubile Russian women to ride big scooters blasting in between two lines of traffic with an arrogant look on their face. In Rawai, Phuket it’s almost di rigeur that they do it. The men are just as bad but seem to enjoy the thrill rather than the posing.

That said, maybe this lady was wearing a helmet and riding properly within speed limits and unfortunately just forgot her insurance. I wish her well but I personally will not be contributing to her medical fund.

6 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

What is the political avenue to solve the 'no helmet' problem? A shock campaign showing what happens to a person's head on impact?

Wouldn't make the slightest difference to Thai people

A few months back I saw some Russian bird with a big bike, I don't exactly know which bike, but she had pulled over at the side of the road, but she dropped it and couldn't lift it back up, some guys had to stop and help her, Riding around with her shorts stuck up her arse, Disgusting my wife commented,

7 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

This is wrong.... Foreign nationals face no greater danger in Thailand than any other nation.

Its when they choose to take chances and 'do things' they would not do in other nations - like riding around Bali, Cancún, Lanzarote etc without a license or a helment...

The report didn't state the poor injured lady didn't have a motorcycle license or wasn't wearing a helmet - but - well, its a fairly obvious guess.

100% agree - Insurance cover should be an entrance requirement - includedin the price of a visa.

Visa Exempt on Arrival... Sure keep it the same - just pay xxx baht entry fee - thats the insurance.

Whether or not travel insurance is mandatory, most state that you would not be covered if riding a motorcycle without an appropriate licence in your home country and helmets must be worn

So most of these cases we read about regularly would not be covered anyway (though in this case we are unaware of the circumstances).

Every day on Phuket you see someone driving like a ****ing moron on a bike. Then again, a lot of the car/van drivers are not much better.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The only way to survive here on the road, is to be patient, have eyes in the back of your head, drive with caution, and always, and I mean always watch out of the other guy.

Seat belts, 4 wheels, and a ton or 2 of steel reduce my odds of being killed (per km) by about 95-98%, according to studies done on traffic fatalities in Oz and the USA. Skill and caution are great, but you're still taking your life in your hands on 2 wheels in a land where traffic enforcement is non-existent.

24 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

A few months back I saw some Russian bird with a big bike, I don't exactly know which bike, but she had pulled over at the side of the road, but she dropped it and couldn't lift it back up, some guys had to stop and help her, Riding around with her shorts stuck up her arse, Disgusting my wife commented,

What a spectacle they make of themselves. All while riding around with a snooty “look at me” look on their face.

28 minutes ago, roo860 said:

6 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

What is the political avenue to solve the 'no helmet' problem? A shock campaign showing what happens to a person's head on impact?

Not letting them ride off without a helmet, after being fined for that same offence, might make a dent.

Add a 5k baht fine and you’d be up at 80% compliance. Confiscate the motorbike for a two week period on top and compliance would be 99%.

It’s not that hard if they wanted to do it.

6 hours ago, Peter Crow said:

there is zero police involvement

Wrong! Police own lots of rental shops.

3 hours ago, RMK54 said:

I’ve got an idea that will never fly. Upon entering Thailand:

1. Either propose a mandatory entry health insurance.

   or,

2. Make it mandatory to have proof of health insurance for the time you are here.

My wife and I are here on a LTR visa. We had to show proof of our insurance to obtain the visa.

I think it’s too much to levy this responsibility on the Thailand medical system.

Don’t think I don’t have any sympathy for her plight, life just took a turn she did not expect. But, her hospitalization would not be a question in this post had insurance been a requirement!

If she was not legal to ride the bike.... what good would the insurance be ?

"The case has prompted warnings about the risks faced by uninsured foreign nationals in Thailand"

Yes, 100% of Thai nationals have insurance, so should tourists. The article has no mention of whether or not she had a valid motorcycle license or was wearing a helmet. It is illegal to ride without a valid license (Thai or International Driving Permit with motorcycle endorsement), and you will be fined at checkpoints, but being stopped on most roads by a traffic cop? Not that I am aware of. Helmets are mandatory by law for both drivers and passengers. New laws are claiming bar and store owners will be responsible for selling alcohol to intoxicated individuals. Why not laws to insure rental companies are responsible for insuring customers have the proper license, insurance, protection, and understand the laws before renting a bike? It's a rhetorical question, so please don't give me reasons why.

8 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

What is the political avenue to solve the 'no helmet' problem? A shock campaign showing what happens to a person's head on impact?

They all wear them in Vietnam (and other SE Asian countries)

How so ??

ENFORCEMENT!!

- not pics of broken heads. They couldn't give a damn about that!

23 minutes ago, orchidfan said:

They all wear them in Vietnam (and other SE Asian countries)

How so ??

ENFORCEMENT!!

- not pics of broken heads. They couldn't give a damn about that!

The Thais wouldn't give a damn, but the farangs would. All these foreigners you see riding helmeltess don't realise the risk they are taking.

But of course enforcement works. In fact, over the past year in Hua Hin, the police have increased the frequency of checkpoints and the threat of a 2k fine (obviously a massive amount for your average Thai) has led to a noticeable uptick in helmet wearing (but not among the foreigners).

5 hours ago, Bruce Aussie said:

Most helmets here are poor quality. I brought mine with me from Australia. Standards are higher.

Tourist are stupid hiring motorcycles here without a proper license, insurance and good previous riding skills.

The government is not doing s thing to control the situation.

The French brand Shark are present on the Thai market. Certified, good quality at a reasonable price (6,000 baht).

I think she is probably now a former model. How faux king stupid to take such risks if your looks are your income?

5 hours ago, RMK54 said:

I’ve got an idea that will never fly. Upon entering Thailand:

1. Either propose a mandatory entry health insurance.

Yeah, a universal emergency coverage with no exclusions, part of the tourist entry fee. Charge an extra 300 baht for it.

2 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

That said, maybe this lady was wearing a helmet and riding properly within speed limits and unfortunately just forgot her insurance.

Judging by the pic (head competely wrapped up, possible craniotomy because of brain swelling), she wasn't wearing one.

7 minutes ago, rattlesnake said:

The Thais wouldn't give a damn, but the farangs would. All these foreigners you see riding helmeltess don't realise the risk they are taking.

But of course enforcement works. In fact,, over the past year in Hua Hin, the police have increased the frequency of checkpoints and the threat of a 2k fine (obviously a massive amount for your average Thai) has led to a noticeable uptick in helmet wearing (but not among the foreigners).

Unfortunately, farangs here don't watch or understand Thai TV, or read local press.

Any safety campaigns would be lost on them.

As you would attest, this kind of education starts with kids....seat belts, helmets, diy...not when they're already adults.

So I think only Enforcement!

The fines probably mostly end up in the BIB's pockets.....but paying it still stings.

I think in the old movie Easy Rider they still wore helmets (??).

7 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

I think she is probably now a former model. How faux king stupid to take such risks if your looks are your income?

Yep, life-changing injury…