Phuket crackdown on motorbike sidecars

A convoy of salaeng cruise the byways of Phuket encouraging people

not to "Vote No" in the run-up to the general election last week.

PHUKET: -- Riders of motorcycles with sidecars (salaeng) will be prosecuted if they use the sidecar to carry passengers, the chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office (PTLO) has announced.

PTLO Chief Teerayout Prasertphol said that drivers who use salaeng for passenger transport do so illegally and present a danger to passengers and other road users.

Legally-registered salaeng can only be used to transport goods, he said.

Passenger transport by salaeng is prohibited under Section 14 of the Motor Vehicle Act of of 1979 and violators are subject to a maximum fine of 2,000 baht under Section 60 of the same act, he said.

In order to prevent the road accidents caused by salaeng and to protect the rights of operators of legally-registered vehicles, the PLTO is also asking motorbike owners not to illegally affix sidecars to vehicles, he said.

Owners of legally registered salaeng must not to use them for passenger transport.

The PTLO will prosecute violators, he warned.

The Gazette invites readers to send images of salaeng carrying passengers to: editor [at] phuketgazette.net

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-07-09

Perhaps properly made trikes would work here, they work well in the Philippines, not sure if 125cc is stong enough but could be.

I think that could be an idea for business! Not for me, I'm too busy with schools but number of motorbikes is huge so a proper trike shop could do very good business.

This would also create a lot of jobs.

I wonder how long this "crackdown" will last. I think there will be a great hardship on many people who don't have money to buy better transportation. But I have to agree that they are totally unsafe for carrying passengers.

Interesting .... I had always been under the impression that all these home made sidecars were illegal. Never heard that salaengs could be legally registered. I would guess that these are the custom made trikes sold up north in places like Ubon. You learn something new every day in Thailand.

siamtutuk dot com

made in Isarn, most common tuk tuk in Isarn. approx 60k baht with Lifan 150cc

problem is, most people using an illegal samlor based on Honda wave, cant afford anything like this, so how will they bring granny to hospital or temple, or baby to hospital?

In other province there are busses available and tuk tuk fare is not more than one days wage, but in Phuket tuk tuks are run by mafia charging 3 days wage for a trip, and no busses between Patong and Karon, as the mafia wasted driver

I am no fan of samlors, legal or illegal, they block the roads as they are dangerous and instable to operate at other vehicles ordinary speed, but until Phuket transportation has been cleaned up and prices normalized, samlors ARE Phukets infrastructure and transportation

Interesting .... I had always been under the impression that all these home made sidecars were illegal. Never heard that salaengs could be legally registered. I would guess that these are the custom made trikes sold up north in places like Ubon. You learn something new every day in Thailand.

any samlor with dual rear lights and 3 brakes can be inspected and thus legaliced. Most dont bother, neither on lights, brakes or inspection

In addition there are factory made samlors like Tiger Retro, homoleg legal samlor

This crachdown will be in Phuket Town and Chalong circle for 2 weeks, and after that anybody can do as they please again.

Just some photos for those who do not quite know what a trike is.

They are totally legal in the Philippines and if properly manufactured are apparently quite safe. I have used them on a number of occasions. No seat belts unfortunately so in case of some serious crash you are most likely dead. Still safer than what I see on the first picture.

any samlor with dual rear lights and 3 brakes can be inspected and thus legaliced. Most dont bother, neither on lights, brakes or inspection

Brake on the third wheel ..... mmmm don't think I have ever seen that on Phuket Island. So you agree that they are almost all illegal, even for transportation of goods. so why just the witch hunt for use of carrying passengers. they should all be taken off the road. Unfortunately the economic reality of life in Thailand makes enforcement unlikely.

siamtutuk dot com

made in Isarn, most common tuk tuk in Isarn. approx 60k baht with Lifan 150cc

problem is, most people using an illegal samlor based on Honda wave, cant afford anything like this, so how will they bring granny to hospital or temple, or baby to hospital?

In other province there are busses available and tuk tuk fare is not more than one days wage, but in Phuket tuk tuks are run by mafia charging 3 days wage for a trip, and no busses between Patong and Karon, as the mafia wasted driver

I am no fan of samlors, legal or illegal, they block the roads as they are dangerous and instable to operate at other vehicles ordinary speed, but until Phuket transportation has been cleaned up and prices normalized, samlors ARE Phukets infrastructure and transportation

I don't think those can be registered either - so drive around unplated. It is my understanding, other than tuktuks (proper) there are no legal 3 wheelers here - just what I have been told. Yet another law that should be looked at - if people are willing to make illegal side-cars for passenegers because there is a demand (lets face it cars are way out the budget for most poor Thais - and sticking baby on a moped is less safe than even a salaeng), then its about time they released some guideline and allowed low price legally build and registrable vehicles such as those you posted, trikes or Etans.

When we lived in Phuket a woman (sole parent) near us had a small bike with sidecar for her family - the two older sons would sit on the bike with her, while her three daughters were in the chair, along with the baby who slept in a hammock made from a towel strung across-ways. Easy to say 'ban them' - but in this example, how else could she get kids to school?

hope this crackdown doesn't spread to the rest of Thailand - the school 'bus' driver where we lived previously (Sa Kaeo) will be out of a job.

any samlor with dual rear lights and 3 brakes can be inspected and thus legaliced. Most dont bother, neither on lights, brakes or inspection

Brake on the third wheel ..... mmmm don't think I have ever seen that on Phuket Island. So you agree that they are almost all illegal, even for transportation of goods. so why just the witch hunt for use of carrying passengers. they should all be taken off the road. Unfortunately the economic reality of life in Thailand makes enforcement unlikely.

By appearance (no third brake or appropriate lights), I would assume 99,xx% of all samlors in Phuket are illegal

I have seen two legal tho

I dont see any difference in transporting goods or people, they are unsafe for both purposes, but until alternative transportation is available, needed by lower income population for both purposes

Just some photos for those who do not quite know what a trike is.

They are totally legal in the Philippines and if properly manufactured are apparently quite safe. I have used them on a number of occasions. No seat belts unfortunately so in case of some serious crash you are most likely dead. Still safer than what I see on the first picture.

no 3rd brake, no dual lights, doubt they are legal as ASEAN countries have rather similar rules on road worthiness, accepted and/or ignored, yes like in most developing countries

These samlors might be fine for quiet rural areas, but really not suitable for busy main roads. It's about time the authorities realise that, and locals recognise that samlors belong to a previous era.

These samlors might be fine for quiet rural areas, but really not suitable for busy main roads. It's about time the authorities realise that, and locals recognise that samlors belong to a previous era.

Most locals would love to trade them for a small pickup, but simply can't afford it. This is the only way of transport for them. In Phuket Town there are not many, so a crackdown there will be accepted probably (provided it doesn't last too long), but in more rural areas like Rawai I don't see any crackdown happening.

but in more rural areas like Rawai I don't see any crackdown happening.

Yep, I agree with that.

siamtutuk dot com

made in Isarn, most common tuk tuk in Isarn. approx 60k baht with Lifan 150cc

problem is, most people using an illegal samlor based on Honda wave, cant afford anything like this, so how will they bring granny to hospital or temple, or baby to hospital?

In other province there are buses available and tuk tuk fare is not more than one days wage, but in Phuket tuk tuks are run by mafia charging 3 days wage for a trip, and no busses between Patong and Karon, as the mafia wasted driver

I am no fan of samlors, legal or illegal, they block the roads as they are dangerous and instable to operate at other vehicles ordinary speed, but until Phuket transportation has been cleaned up and prices normalized, samlors ARE Phukets infrastructure and transportation

Very true. Locals here don't have many options because Phuket is the only place in Thailand where the Tuk Tuks are priced for the tourists. I'm in Pattaya now and what a delight it is to be able to catch a songteaw to anywhere for 20B! And "Lady not pay!!" Spectacular! Hardly any illegal samlors here!! Coincidence?

And to be fair, the Karon/Kata to Patong baht bus driver apparently wasn't killed by "competitors", only pulled from his bus and beaten Reginald Denny style. http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers/details.asp?id=703

Appears to be two threads going on same topic: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/481508-tiger-retro-sidecar-legality/page__gopid__4546790#entry4546790

Appears to be two threads going on same topic: http://www.thaivisa....90#entry4546790

I consider them to be different threads, as this thread is a Phuket related crack down on use of samlors, legal or illegal, and the other one as linked above in the bike forum is seeking information if homoleg legal samlors are registered for more than 2 people

I took this picture today in Kata beach, this one is modified to both deliver beer and transport surfboards. They definitely do the job! Transporting people is a different matter.

gogo police for once do your job

crappy slow Samlors( the legal ones must be able to hit 40kph?)

Farangs driving samlors

old Farangs on bicycles in the traffic of phuket town(deport him)

parking in front of central

Those are the easiest and top 10 most important things that need to be eradicated from thalong down to chalong.

gogo police for once do your job

crappy slow Samlors( the legal ones must be able to hit 40kph?)

Farangs driving samlors

old Farangs on bicycles in the traffic of phuket town(deport him)

parking in front of central

Those are the easiest and top 10 most important things that need to be eradicated from thalong down to chalong.

You've obviously overdosed on a very unusual bad batch of Thai beef. '10 most important things', and you've quoted five. Oh, and where is Thalong?

just another passing phase type of crackdown?

The city near us was plastered with 100% Helmet billboards at the major intersections and on the highway; briefly there were checkpoints, they were issuing warnings at first.

'Crackdown' resurfaced the first week schools went back, more warnings.

Now it's 'as you were' - I think 20% Helmet would be an exaggeration, and maybe 5% Helmet for high school students

IMHO the helmet one is a good starting point - sure, they can count it as 'easy money' but if people are fined, fined, and fined again they may finally start wearing them.

Investigation in ThaiVisa Bike forum has revealed

Tiger Retro is homoleg as a samlor. Registration document states 3 wheels, 3 people (one in sidecar), and as a samlor seating 3 people annual tax is 150 baht, same bike as 2 wheeler seating 2 people is 100 baht annual tax

IOW a legal samlor can legally bring passenger in sidecar

As so often, the public employee quoted by Phuket Gazette in this topic has no idea whatsover what he is talking about

Appears to be two threads going on same topic: http://www.thaivisa....90#entry4546790

click the link to have a look at a legal samlor reg book page 4, seating 3 people

as Sektion 121 states passengers on a samlor MUST sit on bike seat and/or in sidecar, we can see how far out this crack down is