Bike Helmets

[ESB7]

Although the police in Cha am only tend to stop you in a few places from 7.30am-11.00am its worth noting that as from 1st March both rider and pillion must wear a helmet.....dont get caught out

[stander]

I can't understand why people here seeing the wearing of a helmet as a way to avoid a fine, but not as a safety measure.

[darrendsd]

Is this applicable in Hua Hin to?

[katabeachbum]

Same thing introduced in Phuket few months ago.

Hefty fines, up to

1.000 baht for rider

1.000 baht for passenger

additional 1.000 baht for rider allowing passenger not wearing helmet

[sam666]

What happens to the thais with 3-5 ppl on a bike? Nothing of course ..

[phillies]

Same thing introduced in Phuket few months ago.

Hefty fines, up to

1.000 baht for rider

1.000 baht for passenger

additional 1.000 baht for rider allowing passenger not wearing helmet

Can you state your source of this information for Hua Hin/Ch-Am ?

[powderpuff]

Same thing introduced in Phuket few months ago.

Hefty fines, up to

1.000 baht for rider

1.000 baht for passenger

additional 1.000 baht for rider allowing passenger not wearing helmet

Yeah & for Thais 100 baht.

[H2oDunc]

What happens to the thais with 3-5 ppl on a bike? Nothing of course ..

Here on Samui they regularly have check points for helmets. the majority of the people stopped are Thai's. They get the same 500 baht fine as the tourists so it blows your comment out of the water. It should be 1000 baht per person.

[katabeachbum]

Same thing introduced in Phuket few months ago.

Hefty fines, up to

1.000 baht for rider

1.000 baht for passenger

additional 1.000 baht for rider allowing passenger not wearing helmet

Can you state your source of this information for Hua Hin/Ch-Am ?

Fines are set by Traffic/Highwaycode as minimum/maximum fines.

Each Policedistrict sets fines within these limits.

Each Police offiser decides fines within the limits of his Policedistrict

[alina]

I can't understand why people here seeing the wearing of a helmet as a way to avoid a fine, but not as a safety measure.

QUITE RIGHT, A HELMET IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE BOTH RIDERS AND IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN THAILAND.

Doubt many of the foriegners I see have a motorbike license which is also a legal requirement and and driving standard in Thaialnd.

[ESB7]

Same thing introduced in Phuket few months ago.

Hefty fines, up to

1.000 baht for rider

1.000 baht for passenger

additional 1.000 baht for rider allowing passenger not wearing helmet

Can you state your source of this information for Hua Hin/Ch-Am ?

I think Kata was reffering to Phuket...however the source regarding Cha am is a big notice hanging on the police box at the beach end of Narathip Road opposite SCB...........and it also states that government staff caught face double fines, so very interesting that a foreigner would only pay half what certain Thai workers will

[sam666]

What happens to the thais with 3-5 ppl on a bike? Nothing of course ..

Here on Samui they regularly have check points for helmets. the majority of the people stopped are Thai's. They get the same 500 baht fine as the tourists so it blows your comment out of the water. It should be 1000 baht per person.

My comment still stands, I know several people that have been carrying a UK or US drivers license and got done on a bike for no license. Go ask a thai what a driving license is in Hua Hin and they don't think they even exist. I see many farangs getting stopped wearing a helmet while 100 thai's drive past with no helmet and have 5 people on a 20 year old honda knocking out black smoke. I also see thai's driving poor ATV's in central Hua Hin and nothing, friend of mine also got charged for carrying a bike in his truck while in the "fast lane". Have you seen what thai's drive with in back in the fast lane?

So no my comment is not flawed, and no I don't mind it's bias it's Thailand and were not Thai (marrying a bar girl and having a thai child so she can get a visa doesn't make people thai either). It's a good idea and a shame the UK never took the same approach.

Isn't directed personally at you either.

Edited February 27, 2011 by sam666

[ESB7]

What happens to the thais with 3-5 ppl on a bike? Nothing of course ..

Here on Samui they regularly have check points for helmets. the majority of the people stopped are Thai's. They get the same 500 baht fine as the tourists so it blows your comment out of the water. It should be 1000 baht per person.

My comment still stands, I know several people that have been carrying a UK or US drivers license and got done on a bike for no license. Go ask a thai what a driving license is in Hua Hin and they don't think they even exist. I see many farangs getting stopped wearing a helmet while 100 thai's drive past with no helmet and have 5 people on a 20 year old honda knocking out black smoke. I also see thai's driving poor ATV's in central Hua Hin and nothing, friend of mine also got charged for carrying a bike in his truck while in the "fast lane". Have you seen what thai's drive with in back in the fast lane?

So no my comment is not flawed, and no I don't mind it's bias it's Thailand and were not Thai (marrying a bar girl and having a thai child so she can get a visa doesn't make people thai either). It's a good idea and a shame the UK never took the same approach.

Isn't directed personally at you either.

A UK licence is only valid in Thailand for 30 days, after that you either need a IDP or Thai licence. In Cha am there isnt any discrimination, the police stop anyone......reguarly in the morning Thais without helmets or driving on the wrong side of the road are given tickets...it is strange that the police will direct traffic outside schools while kids 4 up on a Honda Wave drive into school without being stopped but thats probably because they are there to direct traffic and not issue tickets....................where on Earth has marrying bar girls and having kids to get a visa come from........wow lets all do that so we can ride a bike without a helmet ..was your friends bike secure/tailgate up and roped in...

[sam666]

What happens to the thais with 3-5 ppl on a bike? Nothing of course ..

Here on Samui they regularly have check points for helmets. the majority of the people stopped are Thai's. They get the same 500 baht fine as the tourists so it blows your comment out of the water. It should be 1000 baht per person.

My comment still stands, I know several people that have been carrying a UK or US drivers license and got done on a bike for no license. Go ask a thai what a driving license is in Hua Hin and they don't think they even exist. I see many farangs getting stopped wearing a helmet while 100 thai's drive past with no helmet and have 5 people on a 20 year old honda knocking out black smoke. I also see thai's driving poor ATV's in central Hua Hin and nothing, friend of mine also got charged for carrying a bike in his truck while in the "fast lane". Have you seen what thai's drive with in back in the fast lane?

So no my comment is not flawed, and no I don't mind it's bias it's Thailand and were not Thai (marrying a bar girl and having a thai child so she can get a visa doesn't make people thai either). It's a good idea and a shame the UK never took the same approach.

Isn't directed personally at you either.

A UK licence is only valid in Thailand for 30 days, after that you either need a IDP or Thai licence. In Cha am there isnt any discrimination, the police stop anyone......reguarly in the morning Thais without helmets or driving on the wrong side of the road are given tickets...it is strange that the police will direct traffic outside schools while kids 4 up on a Honda Wave drive into school without being stopped but thats probably because they are there to direct traffic and not issue tickets....................where on Earth has marrying bar girls and having kids to get a visa come from........wow lets all do that so we can ride a bike without a helmet ..was your friends bike secure/tailgate up and roped in...

Yea that has nothing to do with helmets, was a joke yes he had a brand new toyota with a secure tailgate and the bike was secure. Think the fine was 500bht, and last week I was outside the police station / post office (wearing my helmet) and their were several thais also waiting with no helmets. A farang who had a helmet got pulled in for something and me and the thai's just carryed on going, I imagine the only thing he did wwrong was that the police had no money for todays whisky. Edited February 28, 2011 by sam666

[katabeachbum]

A UK licence is only valid in Thailand for 30 days, after that you either need a IDP or Thai licence.

any english language drivers lisence with picture is good for max 90 days, to operate vehicle according to DL. For non residents.

IOW if you live here you must have Thai DL, if you have permit to stay or visa longer than 90 days, you must have Thai DL

easy to get tho

[BazilFox]

If you dont like it go home, we are guests here.

Helmets are for safety.

License is a legal requirement.

To legally drive a car or motorbike in Thailand you require a Thai or International driving License irrespective of how long you are staying here.

[sam666]

To make you laugh, I got pulled 2 days ago at the lights by the police box .For driving past all the cars on the right hand side and sitting with my front wheel on the crossing. He asked for my license card (was wearing a helmet), I pulled out my gym membership and he said, Ok Pai . No I don't have a license I can't get one till I get my vis Ext in May, but clearly if he thinks my Letic Fitness membership card is a drivers license, he really has no nidea of what one looks like ... Good job he never noticed my tax was Feb (Have a new one but it's in Buriram) ..

[thepanom]

If you dont like it go home, we are guests here.

Helmets are for safety.

License is a legal requirement.

To legally drive a car or motorbike in Thailand you require a Thai or International driving License irrespective of how long you are staying here.

i agree with you

[janverbeem]

Posted 2011-02-25 20:13:28

from 1st March both rider and pillion must wear a helmet

Strange, I would have thought that the OP would have a date of the late nineties as that must have been the era that this was made law in THAILAND.

[katabeachbum]

To make you laugh, I got pulled 2 days ago at the lights by the police box .For driving past all the cars on the right hand side and sitting with my front wheel on the crossing. He asked for my license card (was wearing a helmet), I pulled out my gym membership and he said, Ok Pai . No I don't have a license I can't get one till I get my vis Ext in May, but clearly if he thinks my Letic Fitness membership card is a drivers license, he really has no nidea of what one looks like ... Good job he never noticed my tax was Feb (Have a new one but it's in Buriram) ..

You can obtain a Thai drivers lisence at DLT as long as you are here on a legal permit to stay, no matter what Visa you are here on. Came into effect November 2010 as I recall

[katabeachbum]

Posted 2011-02-25 20:13:28

from 1st March both rider and pillion must wear a helmet

Strange, I would have thought that the OP would have a date of the late nineties as that must have been the era that this was made law in THAILAND.

there are many laws not enforced in Thailand, as the population is not ready for it. To mention two

2 doors pickups with white plates are legal for max 3 persons

Most samlors (3 wheel bikes/sidecars) are not road legal

Why not enforced? These two are the most essential part of Thai transport and infrastructure

[ScubaBuddha]

The helmet campaign has gone national, so we will likely see people, drivers and passengers, getting fined in every part of Thailand now.

The license issue is easy. If you are a tourist, your English language license (or gym membership card if you find a stupid cop) from home is an international license and can be used in Thailand. If your home license is in another language besides English, or doesn't have a photo, you need an international drivers pemit (IDP. If you are a resident you need a Thai DL.

Edited March 7, 2011 by ScubaBuddha