Do You Ever Ride Without A Helmet

[nattydread]

every day i am out on my scooter and see the majority of thai people not wearing a helmet

beautiful young university girls riding side saddle through heavy traffic surounded by maniacs in pick up trucks with no training in how to drive safely

why doesnt the thai govt or schools etc start a wear a hemet campaign...they could start by showing what can happen as seen in the following links

This posting contains some pretty shocking pictures but I hope the mods dont delete it because the lesson to be learnt here could save someones life

yours...the wife /g/f....your teenage child..anyone else who sees it and doesnt wear a hemet

feel free to add any other warnings to the post

Edited February 22, 2012 by Rimmer
Graphic and Pornographic links removed

[justcruisin]

Its a lack of enforcement of the law that makes them do it, oh and of course have to check the hair at every stoplight to make sure they arrive looking nice. We are educated and are safety conscious....yes?

Aaaahh then they haven't seen a skull cracked on the ground with blood coming out of every cranial orifice as I have. The bike has hardly a scratch on it.

Its a personal choice I guess but I see a lot of westerners with no riding skills doing the no helmet thing.

Whats with that, unfamiliar traffic+ drink and ride+little riding experience=Hospital neurosurgeon or die.

[snowflake]

Might be a bit of a side thread, but are there not several states in the USA which has an optional helmet law??? Just saying--- its better to be looking good and dead then ugly and safe...

I never ride without a helmet, feel bad if I do-

There are programs where the students attend a police seminar (lecture) on safe riding, they have to sign a contract between them and the police where they promise that they will always wear a helmet- they are then given a fairly good helmet for free... The downside is that they have to pay twice the fine if they get caught without a helmet... So the students are taught--- but then they go home, mum, dad, uncle are any of you wearing helmet??? NOPE!!! pay the fine!!! Thais just don't care, karma and all that...

(just my two cents)...

[thaicbr]

there was a 100% helmet program last year orchestrated by the last government but I believe its been canceled by this one. studies in the States show that it's cheaper if the rider dies than having to treat them.

[BigBikeBKK]

FWIW there IS a national helmet campaign.

If you ride at all you can't miss signs and billboards like these that have gone up all over the country in recent months-

Police apathy is often to blame for lack of enforcement, but even the BiB are getting in on the act and helping get donated helmets out to children-

If you watch TV there are road safety ads on all the time- this one is old, but there are newer ones-

Progress is slow, but on tours in the last few months I've noticed a lot more people wearing helmets, even out in remote areas where there are no police, so I do think the latest campaign is having an effect.

Will it last and improve? Or, like most Thai campaigns, will it fizzle and fade? Only time will tell, but so far what I've seen has been encouraging.

Happy Trails!

Tony

[katabeachbum]

I ride without a helmet every day, simply cause I like it

I do not believe these horror pics/movies work, just as I do not think the ones on cigarette packs make smokers quit

In a country where we as foreigners have no right to free hospital care, my riding without a helmet is my problem only, and i will continue to enjoy it.

On the other hand I do not smoke, so my survival chance is higher than a smokers

[Rimmer]

The original post has been edited as it has way over the topic graphic pictures as well as links to pornographic content, we all know its a terrible problem but no more links like that please

[chris2004]

Most thai motorcycle helmets are next to useless anyway, a piece of thin plastic, often not fastened on. You are almost better wearing none.

[BigBikeBKK]

Most thai motorcycle helmets are next to useless anyway, a piece of thin plastic, often not fastened on. You are almost better wearing none.

I strongly disagree- a crappy helmet is still better than no helmet!

[smedly]

a good read

http://msf-usa.org/downloads/helmet_CSI.pdf

[BigBikeBKK]

a good read

http://msf-usa.org/d.../helmet_CSI.pdf

Yet when I point out the obvious you call me a %*&$...

"A good helmet is designed to absorb the impact and destroy itself in this process. Cheap, locally built helmets are designed by people who think that if you can make a helmet hard enough to break concrete then nothing can happen to what is inside it. This shows a lack of knowledge of human anatomy. "

[smedly]

Helmet choice is a big issue and real information is somewhat hard to find on the various makes etc so organisations do the testing for us, there are several brands here in Thailand that have the DOT rating - is this enough ? when you buy an $80 "Real" helmet or a $500 "Shoei" what are you paying for ? These are questions that will never be properly answered on this forum

Only thing you can do is make sure any helmet you wear has official DOT specification - fits properly is fastened properly and you wear it at all times - not much else to discuss

[madjbs]

when you buy an $80 "Real" helmet or a $500 "Shoei" what are you paying for ? These are questions that will never be properly answered on this forum

What are you talking about?

[nattydread]

The original post has been edited as it has way over the topic graphic pictures as well as links to pornographic content, we all know its a terrible problem but no more links like that please

apologies for my mistake

[ludditeman]

Today I went for a ride on my scooter, no helmet.

My wife was on the back, no helmet.

My baby (4 month) was strapped to me, no helmet (can you even buy one?)

We all had a very nice time, baby particularly likes looking around when we are driving.

Welcome to Thailand.

Edited February 22, 2012 by ludditeman

[transam]

Today I went for a ride on my scooter, no helmet.

My wife was on the back, no helmet.

My baby (4 month) was strapped to me, no helmet (can you even buy one?)

We all had a very nice time, baby particularly likes looking around when we are driving.

Welcome to Thailand.

you can buy helmet for any size head. DON'T come on the forum saying your babe is dead cos of you eh. .

[poanoi]

No, i don't want to pay any more fine, so i have a helmet,

no need to tie that ungainly rope

[karlos]

I'm sure he was riding on a nice quiet stretch of road far from Bangkok or any built up areas.

However, even on closed roads, chains can snap, inner tubes / tyres can deflate, road surfaces can surprise us all and heaven forbid should one suddenly suffer a serious heart flutter when riding with the whole family aboard. .....

[Semper]

why doesnt the thai govt or schools etc start a wear a hemet campaign

Because it will not help. If you have been in this country longer than the average tourist, you should know. They are just plain stupid. You'll have to waite to the next generation and maybe you'll see a change in behaviour.

[BookMan]

I never ride without a helmet. Come off your scooter at only 50kmh and see how your head feels without one.

Some of the phrases I hear from a friend, who doesn't wear one:

"I don't need a helmet, I'm a good rider'

"Helmets make you look like a dork"

"If you want to wear that yellow helmet and look like an idiot...."

"No one here wears helmets. People will laugh at you".

[transam]

I never ride without a helmet. Come off your scooter at only 50kmh and see how your head feels without one.

Some of the phrases I hear from a friend, who doesn't wear one:

"I don't need a helmet, I'm a good rider'

"Helmets make you look like a dork"

"If you want to wear that yellow helmet and look like an idiot...."

"No one here wears helmets. People will laugh at you".

Your ''friends'' brains are obviously somewhere around his knees, perhaps to be avoided unless he's 15.

[taninthai]

Today I went for a ride on my scooter, no helmet.

My wife was on the back, no helmet.

My baby (4 month) was strapped to me, no helmet (can you even buy one?)

We all had a very nice time, baby particularly likes looking around when we are driving.

Welcome to Thailand.

Have no problems with an adult not wearing a helmet I'm all for freedom of choice but putting a babies life in danger is inconsiderate and the height of carelessness and stupidity I thought people were supposed to grow up when they have children apparently not this one......

Then to come on a forum and boast about it is even more stupid and is surely tempting fate just my opinion though......

Edited February 22, 2012 by taninthai

[Spoonman]

Most thai motorcycle helmets are next to useless anyway, a piece of thin plastic, often not fastened on. You are almost better wearing none.

I strongly disagree- a crappy helmet is still better than no helmet!

A Thai style/crappy helmet sure help those 2 welsh lads in Pattaya a while ago ....................................................

As to the OP, I have had too many friends die whilst riding scooters, I refuse to mount one these days but back in the days when I did putting on a helmet (crappy Thai style) was only dictated if I was crossing Sukhumvit road or not.

[katabeachbum]

Today I went for a ride on my scooter, no helmet.

My wife was on the back, no helmet.

My baby (4 month) was strapped to me, no helmet (can you even buy one?)

We all had a very nice time, baby particularly likes looking around when we are driving.

Welcome to Thailand.

you can buy helmet for any size head. DON'T come on the forum saying your babe is dead cos of you eh. .

a babys head can not caryy the weight of a helmet, neck simply snaps

my 4 yo wears a helmet, a bright red bug style one, not sure it improves his safety due to weight/load to neck in case of accident, but i want him to get used to biking is helmet

[Gary A]

I have to admit that I don't wear a helmet when I go to the farms. It's dirt roads all the way and my dog usually runs beside me. Even without the dog, speeds seldom get over 30 KPH.

When I am on the open paved roads, I wear a good quality helmet and don't feel safe without it. My helmet is a Nolan, so the quality is good. No cheap free with the motorcycle purchase helmets for me.

[BigBikeBKK]

Most thai motorcycle helmets are next to useless anyway, a piece of thin plastic, often not fastened on. You are almost better wearing none.

I strongly disagree- a crappy helmet is still better than no helmet!

A Thai style/crappy helmet sure help those 2 welsh lads in Pattaya a while ago ....................................................

Top shelf helmets wouldn't have saved them either- their bodies were in pieces up and down the road, remember???

Even a relatively small blow to the head can be fatal.

Helmets designed to handle major crash energy generally contain a layer of crushable foam.

When you crash and your helmet hits a hard surface, the foam part of a helmet crushes, controlling and absorbing some of the crash energy which reduces the impact to the brain. The better the helmet, the more energy it can absorb. Conversely, poor quality helmets may not do a good job of absorbing crash energy.

Check out the lab test graphs of the impact energy below.

This is the impact to the brain WITH a helmet:

And this is the impact to the brain with no helmet:

Somewhere about half way up that spike is where permanent brain damage begins.

Edited February 22, 2012 by BigBikeBKK

[Jayman]

I brought a DOT approved helmet over from the states and have managed not have it stolen yet for the many years I've been wearing it here (knock on wood). As soon as I had a kid I bought a car. There is no way I would let me infant on a motorbike and I don't care who is driving and how few cars are on the road. This is just plain irresponsible. Now he's 4 and I bought him a good helmet in Vietnam (yes they seem to be much more aware than Thais). He still sits in a car seat in the car (hard to find in Thailand) and on occasion I take him out on the bike for a spin around the neighborhood. Certainly it's not the norm for him to be on a bike and of course when I am driving with him on I'm super cautious. He even wears his helmet when he's riding his bike around the neighborhood. Sound over the top? Not for my child's safety. But as long as I'm around he'll do as I say. Feel free to handle your own kids how you see fit but I have seen far too many kids here in bike accidents and it's heart breaking every time.

[madjbs]

It is extremely irresponsible to take a child on a motorcycle without a helmet in my opinion. In most of your home countries If your child died as a result of not wearing a helmet, when it was the law to do so, you would be guilty of manslaughter.

[katabeachbum]

anyone know the lifetime of a helmet in the UV rays of Thailand? Iv got quite a few 3-5 yo helmets in my garage, half and full face, and thought it would be time to scrap them for some non UV exposed new ones

[Semper]

Most thai motorcycle helmets are next to useless anyway, a piece of thin plastic, often not fastened on. You are almost better wearing none.

I strongly disagree- a crappy helmet is still better than no helmet!

A Thai style/crappy helmet sure help those 2 welsh lads in Pattaya a while ago ....................................................

Top shelf helmets wouldn't have saved them either- their bodies were in pieces up and down the road, remember???

Even a relatively small blow to the head can be fatal.

Helmets designed to handle major crash energy generally contain a layer of crushable foam.

When you crash and your helmet hits a hard surface, the foam part of a helmet crushes, controlling and absorbing some of the crash energy which reduces the impact to the brain. The better the helmet, the more energy it can absorb. Conversely, poor quality helmets may not do a good job of absorbing crash energy.

Check out the lab test graphs of the impact energy below.

This is the impact to the brain WITH a helmet:

And this is the impact to the brain with no helmet:

Somewhere about half way up that spike is where permanent brain damage begins.

As in a knockout in boxing?