Substandard Thai Motorcycle Helmets

[bonobo]

As one post mentioned in a prior thread, I think it is very important to make sure that people buy and use certified motorcycle helmets.

Early this morning, a friend was coming over for the weekend, and less than a couple of kilometers from my place, on a surface street, she was hit by another motorcycle. From the witnesses, the other motorcycle was moving quickly, but not blazingly fast. The impact threw my friend from the bike and she struck her head on the road. Her helmet broke into pieces by the impact, and she suffered severe brain trauma when her then naked head impacted on the road surface. She could not be treated at the nearest hospital due to the severity of her injury, so she was transported to a bigger hospital which had a neurological surgeon on duty. She underwent surgery to save her life.

Three of us stayed with her all day while we tried to contact her family, and they arrived late this afternoon just as she opened one eye and acknowledged us. She seems to be out of immediate danger, but she has a long row to hoe.

In the US, helmets must meet DOT standards. I don't know the standards in other countries. But this Thai helmet was an inferior, cheap piece of garbage which gave her a false sense of security. True, the helmet may have saved her life, but a better helmet would most likely have let her get away without any serious injury (other than her head, she has no obvious injuries.)

This is probably stating the obvious, but please, please use a quality helmet when riding, and don't let any loved one or friend use what is little more than a cheap plastic hat.

[pampal]

Beware, DOT stickers are not hard to fake.

[Loz]

Sorry for your friends troubles.

As a biker back home and track addict, I have mentioned before the benefit of QUALITY helmets. Its the only head you've got, isn't it? Why put it in a bob the builder hat then?

Saying that, Back home I replace my lid at least every two years, for saftey, not fashion (always plain black or White although I'd consider a Cathcart replica...). Here I have hand my lid 3+ years and it was cheaper to start with. It's my "village" lid. but the point still stands. My "distance" lid is well specced. THankfully neither have been tested!

[F1fanatic]

Easier said than done.

I hated the helmet that came with my motorbike for three years (it was too big, so in the wind slipped back on my head and hurt my neck).

I tried everywhere to find a smaller, better helmet without success, until a month or so ago there was somebody selling good helmets in the Phuket Bangkok hospital

Edit - I find this really odd - surely the Thais are smaller than us normally, so how come all the motorcycle helmets are so large (even though the size shown is Medium)? They can't possibly fit Thai women.

[bonobo]

So here is a serious question.  I don't ride a bike here, so I don't know the answer.  How can you make sure that a helmet is good quality?  

[F1fanatic]

So here is a serious question. I don't ride a bike here, so I don't know the answer. How can you make sure that a helmet is good quality?

Generally its v difficult. I was 'happier' when the salesperson said "these are medium quality and these are good quality". The price difference reflected that. Plus, I assumed (never a good idea!) that as they were selling them in the Phuket Bangkok hospital, they wouldn't be allowed to be there unless they were selling decent helmets.

But I could have been wrong in that assumption....

[bobo42]

So here is a serious question. I don't ride a bike here, so I don't know the answer. How can you make sure that a helmet is good quality?

I have been trying to figure this out as well. I am loathe to put any faith in any "certification" offered by a local helmet manufacturer, any stickers and labels affixed can most likely be done without any kind of testing or enforcement at all, just marketing. I'm currently stuck with using a local lid until I can find something better (not easy to get here). Hopefully its of better quality than the one your friend was using, but there's no way to know.

Any idea of the name she was wearing? Maybe it could help someone save their head.

I do hope your friend recovers, and good on her for protecting herself with something, even if it was a poor helmet, probably better than nothing.

[IanForbes]

Sad story, bonobo, and a good reminder. I highly doubt my helmet is more than just a cheap plastic case with a bit of padding. But, it's almost impossible in a country with so many fakes to find the real deal.

[robblok]

So here is a serious question.  I don't ride a bike here, so I don't know the answer.  How can you make sure that a helmet is good quality?  

Sorry to hear about your friend. About the helmet i just get a "real" (brandname) helmet they are dot approved and a little bit better as most other helmets without breaking the bank. I believe they are around 2.500 baht.

So far i have been in one accident with my bike where i was hit by a truck from behind (at speed). I did not need my helmet as i was stuck under the truck with the bike and pushed forward. I never hit the dirt but it taught me to be even more careful and that we are all so fragile.

It did not discourage me from riding a bike i still do it. Bikes are a great mode of transportation here especially if there is a lot of traffic or the destination is close by. I often choose the bike over the car.

[bangkokcitylimits]

So here is a serious question. I don't ride a bike here, so I don't know the answer. How can you make sure that a helmet is good quality?

Inside Panthip Plaza just before the south exit there's a bike accessories shop that sells qualified imported helmets. They are not cheap though, take a 2.000b with you.

Guess some motorbike brand shops sell safe helmets as well (the Triumph shop @ Nimanhemin Rd?)

[higgy88]

I would say that the basic problem is that road safety, and safety in general, is simply not important here. You are completely on your own. The Thai helmet standards for certification, TIS 39-253, are so weak as to be basically worthless. If anyone is interested, I have the Thai standard in a pdf file. As far as I could find out, it has never been translated into English, probably for obvious reasons. Anyone who knows anything about helmets knows how weak these standards are, so I must assume that both the Thai government and the Thai helmet manufacturers must also know this. I must also assume that since nothing is done, it must mean that they like the way it is. My belief is that the law requiring motorcycle riders to wear a helmet is all about looking like they are concerned with safety, but in reality it is all about money. You have a choice of either paying a policeman for not wearing one, or supporting a Thai manufacturer by buying an inferior one. Unfortunately, if you want to buy a decent helmet here, you are immediately slapped with a 100% import tax, as well as other taxes which are also applied to the shipping costs. So if you want decent motorcycle gear for a decent price, you have to buy it in another country. I've been told that Singapore is a good place for decent motorcycle gear at decent prices.

My son died from head injuries while wearing what I had thought was a good quality Index helmet that I forced him to wear. If there was any possible way that I could have done it, I would have sued both the Thai government and Index for knowingly putting their citizens at risk by their actions, which is exactly what they do.

I will say that there is one Thai manufacturer that does make DOT certified helmets, and that is Real Helmets. Unfortunately, I found out about this too late.

[MrBrad]

For, say, US$150 or even $200 that can be spent on a good helmet, it should be obvious that it's worth the price. When you're lying in a hospital bed in a coma or worse, the large initial outlay of cash for a decent helmet will seem like it would have been a small investment in protection.

In late August I was driving in the dark, moving at about only 40 kph, when a dog ran onto the road. We collided and the cycle went one way while I went the other. I suffered a number of bumps and scrapes, but my head was well-protected and uninjured thanks to the helmet that I bought in the US.

For all the people we see riding without helmets, I wonder what the number of head injuries in Thailand really is. It has to be astounding.

[TheWhiteFella]

Sorry for your friends troubles.

As a biker back home and track addict, I have mentioned before the benefit of QUALITY helmets. Its the only head you've got, isn't it? Why put it in a bob the builder hat then?

Saying that, Back home I replace my lid at least every two years, for saftey, not fashion (always plain black or White although I'd consider a Cathcart replica...). Here I have hand my lid 3+ years and it was cheaper to start with. It's my "village" lid. but the point still stands. My "distance" lid is well specced. THankfully neither have been tested!

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I am very sorry for the reason this topic came up,,,, but many people need to know and understand helmets mostly the authorities here who made this ridiculous law with no standard for the helmet to pass

I have written to Phuket Gazette 10 times about helmets they never ever printed a word. The F A C T is that a helmet law is ridiculous and unless if there are defined standards for the helmet required, the helmet does not save lives if they are not Z90+ or DOT or Snell standard. The straps for example have a inconvenient double D ring design (first problem with a helmet is it comes flying off in an accident) no clips no buckles they all fail and must have D rings

Thailand should make the issue of helmets a S A F E T Y issue and safety requires good helmets .income issues only require an inadequate law.

Unfortunately good helmets are expensive, but the day you need one the $ becomes a small matter if it saves a life or serious injury of you or a loved one.

If Thailand is sincere about safety they could subsidize the price of good helmets. The current situation simply shows how insincere Thailand is showing it's insincerity by continuing the rediclous law that one could interpret as only serving the police income and certainly not for the well being of the Kings subjects

I read someone remark that the stickers can be easily duplicated and here in Thailand this is especially true,, I guess you must go to an extremely well respected dealer, I would not rely on stickers here,

There is much one can learn if you simply Google "approved motorcycle helmets"

Something few people realize is helmets have a shelf life, The way they work is to absorbing energy and it does this by self destructing so two points

#1. Never use a helmet after it has suffered an impact,

#2. A helmet becomes more rigid with time and looses its elasticity which severely reduces it;s ability to absorb impact.

G O O D H E L M E T S D O S A V E L I V E S Most Thai helmets only save you the $ of the fine. The law should be changed if Thailand is serious about saving lives,,,

I am extremely sorry this tragedy is the source of the discussion, But I sincerely hope some people will understand a helmet law is with out merit unless it requires quality helmets,,,, better not to have the law,

[JusMe]

I have two helmets, the runabout town one which is simply to save me the 200 baht, and another decent one for when I head out on the highway.

But I'm not really trusting either one, just becoming a bit accepting of what could be inevitable.

I do remember a good friend who worked in Death & Injury Insurance, saying that the only difference with wearing a helmet or not, is whether it's an open or closed casket.

[MZurf]

Sorry about your frien, hope she will be OK.

Some interesting information in this thread. I thought that Index made quality helmets - I have one myself. Seems that I was wrong.

I would buy the best helmets that money could buy for my wife and myself if there was any chance of them not being stolen, but after having lost 4-5 helmets I don't see how I can prevent this from happening.

I can lock one of the helmets under the seat but the other one has to be outside and then they just cut off whatever it is you are securing it with.

[bonobo]

I would say that the basic problem is that road safety, and safety in general, is simply not important here. You are completely on your own. The Thai helmet standards for certification, TIS 39-253, are so weak as to be basically worthless. If anyone is interested, I have the Thai standard in a pdf file. As far as I could find out, it has never been translated into English, probably for obvious reasons. Anyone who knows anything about helmets knows how weak these standards are, so I must assume that both the Thai government and the Thai helmet manufacturers must also know this. I must also assume that since nothing is done, it must mean that they like the way it is. My belief is that the law requiring motorcycle riders to wear a helmet is all about looking like they are concerned with safety, but in reality it is all about money. You have a choice of either paying a policeman for not wearing one, or supporting a Thai manufacturer by buying an inferior one. Unfortunately, if you want to buy a decent helmet here, you are immediately slapped with a 100% import tax, as well as other taxes which are also applied to the shipping costs. So if you want decent motorcycle gear for a decent price, you have to buy it in another country. I've been told that Singapore is a good place for decent motorcycle gear at decent prices.

My son died from head injuries while wearing what I had thought was a good quality Index helmet that I forced him to wear. If there was any possible way that I could have done it, I would have sued both the Thai government and Index for knowingly putting their citizens at risk by their actions, which is exactly what they do.

I will say that there is one Thai manufacturer that does make DOT certified helmets, and that is Real Helmets. Unfortunately, I found out about this too late.

I am very sorry for your loss. My friend was not a particularly close one, just someone coming to join some others here for a weekend get-together, and she was moved to the ICU this morning, so it looks good for her. Yet I still feel a sense of outrage at the helmet situation here, and a sense of loss at her near scrape with death. So I can't imagine how I would feel to have lost a loved one in such a case.

[Heng]

So here is a serious question.  I don't ride a bike here, so I don't know the answer.  How can you make sure that a helmet is good quality?  

Go to Paddock in Bangkok (Ratchadaphisek Road) and buy yourself a Shoei or an Arai helmet. As in Arai the Japanese company, not arai what? Take the stickers off so your helmet doesn't get nicked as a lot of helmets are probably worth as much as half of the scooters you see around on the roads.

I don't even ride a lot (at most 200 meters to the nearest 7-11 or around some of our construction sites) but I make sure my head is protected.

[basjke]

So here is a serious question. I don't ride a bike here, so I don't know the answer. How can you make sure that a helmet is good quality?

Inside Panthip Plaza just before the south exit there's a bike accessories shop that sells qualified imported helmets. They are not cheap though, take a 2.000b with you.

Guess some motorbike brand shops sell safe helmets as well (the Triumph shop @ Nimanhemin Rd?)

If you're serious and made a honest mistake as it would read 20.000 Baht to get a qualified imported helmet overhere.For the money you mention you can't even get it abroad.

[billd766]

I ride a Honda Phantom and I ALWAYS wear a helmet.

I use a Real Ozzy 3/4 face helmet which locally and up to 50 or km and an Index with a tinted visor for long distance.

After reading this I looked at both inside and the Real has a lot more padding.

Next month I will probably replace the Index with a Real Stealth model in XL.

I personally have a problem finding helmets big enough for me and also small enough for my 6 year old son.

I have told him he is NOT ALLOWED on any scooter or motorcycle WITHOUT a helmet and I have also told all the adults the same for him.

If they wish to ride around with no helemt and possibly kill themselves that is their problem but NEVER take my son without a helmet.

A couple of links which may be helpful.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=108576

http://www.real-helmets.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=5