The war on street racers isn't working: Thai editorial

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EDITORIAL
The war on street racers isn't working
The Nation

Young daredevils who endanger lives on our roads need to be weaned off the habit

BANGKOK: -- Police are revving up for another crackdown on illegal street racing after the problem was mentioned by the junta chief during his weekly "Returning Happiness" televised address to the nation.

Previous harsh measures and occasional waves of arrests have done little to deter the mostly young daredevil racers. Bangkok streets still ring with the roar of their engines almost nightly.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha, chief of the ruling National Counter for Peace and Order (NCPO), said in his weekly address last Friday that street racing was undermining the country and widely loathed. He called on police to take rigorous action against the bikers.

His remarks came in the wake of an uproar this month among social-media users over night-time street racing on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, close to the Democracy Monument. Though the ad hoc racetrack was just a few minutes' drive from the nearest police stations, the racing carried on undisturbed. Netizens even released a video clip of the racing, with no policemen to be seen.

Noise from motorcycle street racing was the top gripe among 40,000 complaints that members of the public have filed since the coup of May 22, says the Public Service Centre at Government House.

For many youngsters, street racing now has the status of a subculture. A night-time gathering can attract hundreds of racers and an "audience" at least twice that size, the swarm especially thick at weekends or on public holidays. The attraction for racers is twofold: the thrill of violating the law and the adrenaline that comes with risking their lives on speeding machines. But there's a big downside: they also endanger the lives of law-abiding road users, occupy the time of emergency services and officials, and burden the health service when they need treatment for often-serious injuries sustained while racing.

Police have vowed a three-pronged approach, using laws covering traffic, child protection and industrial products to tackle the problem. The target for prosecution will thus be widened from the young street racers themselves to their parents and the motorbike-modification shops that own the vehicles involved. If strictly enforced, the combined powers of those three laws should help reduce the problem.

However, tough measures and strict law enforcement won't deter every thrill-seeker. One former biker has said he felt "invincible" and "fully liberated" while racing on the road. He stopped doing it only after witnessing many of his fellow street racers seriously injured in "cruel and violent" police raids. He claimed that one police tactic was to throw wooden sticks or steel pipes into the spokes of the bikes' wheels, causing the riders to crash.

But, however harsh the measures, a hardened core of bike racers refuse to quit the streets.

Psychiatrists have suggested that, as well as using the law, the problem should be tackled at its root cause - the attitude of the racers. Experts also emphasise the role of parents and advise them to keep an eye on their children and direct them toward more wholesome pursuits.

As part of this more "holistic" approach, street racers, particularly repeat offenders, should undergo therapy. Therapy programmes have in the past been successful in changing the attitude of some of the culprits and wooing them away from the practice. But we need more such programmes to help convince young bikers that there's more to life than illegal and dangerous street racing.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/The-war-on-street-racers-isnt-working-30241380.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-21

[Bkungbank]

In some coutries government will allocate funds to build racing place for them to show off on proper channel and since you cannot beat it ,why not join them as one of the sport with proper safety .

[ChrisY1]

Most things involving the cops to clean things up never work for long.......they're too lazy!

[bangkokheat]

catch them, confiscate their bike, crush the bike, fine them, their parents and fine the engine builder, second offence include some jail time

[NongKhaiKid]

Most things involving the cops to clean things up never work for long.......they're too lazy!

Maybe they thought if they announced yet another crackdown it would scare the boy racers away so they wouldn't have to leave the station, or wherever, late night and early morning.

[khwaibah]

Just like the good old days...

[moe666]

Good luck stopping

[Vacuum]

In some coutries government will allocate funds to build racing place for them to show off on proper channel and since you cannot beat it ,why not join them as one of the sport with proper safety .

That would spoil all the fun for them.

The attraction for racers is twofold: the thrill of violating the law and the adrenaline that comes with risking their lives on speeding machines.

Edited August 21, 2014 by Vacuum

[thesetat2013]

Come one! leave these kids alone. They are just learning now how to break the law for their futures in thai politics.

Seriously though. When the harsh fine is imposed of a payoff from the family for 1000 baht and the chance to get caught is slim to none. It makes sense that these kids don't care about the laws or the punishments. The Junta and Police should be focusing on making the parents responsible for their kids actions. Prison sentences and removal of custody if families can't keep their kids in control and safe at home.

The Junta could also open a racing center geared for kids to have a place to race other than in the streets. Since most young adults love the adrenalin rush and excitement of the danger the very least the Junta could do would be to make it safer and more controlled as well as having on-hand medical personnel there which does not remove care from the average person.

[farmer floyd]

I am 72 years old and have been street racing (in a car) since 1962 Chevy 409 engine with 409 HP. You would go out in

country where we met every night or big on weekends and never had a wreck but close. Live in Florida now with a Datsun

510 2 dr with a Honda S-2000 engine with 242 hp and is much faster then 409 chev, weighs about 1/2. turns 112 mph in 1/4 mile. Just use common sense and never had a ticket for over 20 mph over speed limit. usually 10 over. Raced with SCCA

in rear engine cars like formula 2. won regional and still going strong. let kids go to area and leave them alone. love it!!

[chotthee]

The army can always send in snipers to shoot the tires of the racers.

As in 2010, just station them on top of Satiwit School, overlooking the Ratchadamnoen Avenue, close to the Democracy Monument.

[godden]

i think the best thing is to try and find them some where they can race off public roads.

[american12bthai]

catch them, confiscate their bike, crush the bike, fine them, their parents and fine the engine builder, second offence include some jail time

you must hate thai people. i know a dictator that thinks like you do. lets hope you are weak and poor.

the answer is designated road strips. or make them. make them near ems hangouts,

charge them, charge a small fee to race.

punishing them by crushing or stealing their bikes will only make it worse. punishment should always fit the crime. make them do community service WITH the motorcycle taxi guys.

most of these motorcycle racers are children with nothing to do. the best way to deal with tis problem is YOUTH PROGRAMS.

[seajae]

I am 72 years old and have been street racing (in a car) since 1962 Chevy 409 engine with 409 HP. You would go out in

country where we met every night or big on weekends and never had a wreck but close. Live in Florida now with a Datsun

510 2 dr with a Honda S-2000 engine with 242 hp and is much faster then 409 chev, weighs about 1/2. turns 112 mph in 1/4 mile. Just use common sense and never had a ticket for over 20 mph over speed limit. usually 10 over. Raced with SCCA

in rear engine cars like formula 2. won regional and still going strong. let kids go to area and leave them alone. love it!!

I also did the same thing but we did not do it on a major road in a big city, we did it on country roads where no one else could be injured and there were no houses close by. Trying to compare what you do is really just stupid as there is no comparison, these idiots are endangering other peoples lives as well as causing a great deal of noise but I suppose you think that no one has the right to safety or a noise free nights sleep. At 72 you should have more sense but then some people just never grow up, anyone endangering other peoples lives to get their jollies needs to be pulled into line, the police need to seize and destroy their bikes/machines. If they want to race then go to a race track and do it where no one else is caught up in their crap. At 72 I have to wonder just how good your reflexes are in case of a problem/losing control at over 100 mph or doesnt that fact find any purchase in your brain, natural aging effects us all and slows us down but then some people just dont care what damage their actions can cause.

[huangnon]

Combination of Thai cops being far too lazy to bother their <deleted> getting out on the streets to do anything about a bunch of kids with no money in their pockets.

Then there is the fact that Thai adolescents have no opportunity to engage in team sports. Rivalry cannot be channelled into physical competition simply because for most kids there is sod all in the way of organised sports, amenities, or the will to benefit from such character building.

[Nemesis7]

Either ask these people to race on a proper racing ground or impose the law and enforce it strictly regardless who the offender is. Army Military police could assist local police to enforce it, since chance are most of the racers belong to wealthy and well connected family.

Such fun could be lethal for the racers and for other people on the street.

[american12bthai]

The army can always send in snipers to shoot the tires of the racers.

As in 2010, just station them on top of Satiwit School, overlooking the Ratchadamnoen Avenue, close to the Democracy Monument.

(slow applause)

you my friend are stuck in the past and will forever be stuck there. every time you relate something in the past to something in the present, you will always be wrong. data is compiling and we all are learning, some of us anyways.

remember, these racers are mainly young adults or younger with nothing to do. hurting the motorcycle kids with the use of violence seems to be thaksin's strategy.

( i thought id comparing two things that have no relation whatsoever in hopes that chotthee will understand, he has been brainwashed to blame everything on the military, its not his fault. )

[trainman34014]

catch them, confiscate their bike, crush the bike, fine them, their parents and fine the engine builder, second offence include some jail time

There you go thinking like a Farang again. You no unerstan Thainess !

[Zeegator]

In some coutries government will allocate funds to build racing place for them to show off on proper channel and since you cannot beat it ,why not join them as one of the sport with proper safety .

Which countries' goverments allocate public funds to provide race tracks for illegal road racers?

[Loles]

PLEASE I'M BAGGING.

Just check the TH advertising spots in TV about the cars or motorbikes, just check the TH daily soap-operas about how drive the actors and actresses in them.

And no more question.

What did you wait ??? Please!

[glasswort]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I am 72 years old and have been street racing (in a car) since 1962 Chevy 409 engine with 409 HP. You would go out in

country where we met every night or big on weekends and never had a wreck but close. Live in Florida now with a Datsun

510 2 dr with a Honda S-2000 engine with 242 hp and is much faster then 409 chev, weighs about 1/2. turns 112 mph in 1/4 mile. Just use common sense and never had a ticket for over 20 mph over speed limit. usually 10 over. Raced with SCCA

in rear engine cars like formula 2. won regional and still going strong. let kids go to area and leave them alone. love it!!

My hero!! What a truly moronic post.Thailand is not Florida and these idiots are racing in the middle of Bangkok not out in the country. Just in case you are not aware, and most Americans know very little about anything outside the USA, Bangkok is the capital of Thailand with a population of somewhere between 10 and 20 million and some of the most congested roads in the World - absolutely ideal for street racing.

[lucjoker]

the youngster are not doing this for the thrill .

They are used to see their sisters drive an unlit motorcycle on the wrong way of the road,

taking corners with 1 hand while texting and holding their baby.Of course without a helmet,

insurance,drivers license .........So ,no thrill seen in extremely dangerous driving.

Why they do it ? " Face ",it is all about "face" ,winning ,being the hero for a moment in front of a public.

If no public ,they drive also as idiots but nothing to win,no thrill .

Dont make them loose "face",they will kill for that .

[tropic1000]

As inferred from some posts above, the solution can be multifaceted.

On the one hand, better enforcement, and on the other, better deterrence and prevention. The suggestion for therapy for the racers? These are people whose thrill is speed and breaking the law, so not sure how easy therapy sessions would be.

Isn't most of the racing at night? And while I'd like to know how the stats of numbers of police to citizens compare with other countries, the bigger question might be in knowing if there are enough at night. I never see many after 6 pm. when the vermin are most active. Did anyone else notice this too?

[lvr181]

Therapy and fines = bulls hit. Police need to get off their backsides and enforce the laws. 2nd (or maybe first offence) confiscate bike and crush. No bike no street racing. Forget parents and bike builders. Parents cannot control the kids (otherwise the kids would not likely be street racing) and many bike builders have legitimate business, so punish ONLY those who are supporting these kids. Swift and perhaps draconian measures will work better than a slap on the wrist or purse. Get real!

[Gonki]

Ban the gasoline!

[tropic1000]

Agreed. Take away bikes from racers, then no more racing.

But, no police on hand, no take away bikes.

Step one, need police on hand -- and ready to respond. Step two, take away bikes.

That probably means beefing up the night squad!

[Killian30]

I agree its a sub culture between the youths, I seen about 2000 plus scooters gathering along Democracy Monument the other night and the seen one guy crash in the short time I was there,

They all seem to be older school kids with there GFs, the Taxi guy was telling me he used to do it when he was younger. "Racing, Racing"

It was definitely a site you don't see everyday but I have seen worst in Farangland attending biker clubs parties in bars in the countryside.

[thaiguzzi]

Daredevils! Bikers! Roar of engines! ??? I thought they were spotty oiks and teenagers on mopeds.

[espinoza]

"Police are revving up for another crackdown on illegal street racing after the problem was mentioned by the junta chief during his weekly "Returning Happiness" televised address to the nation." Why in the sake of the humans beeing will they make another crackdown ? Why not make this a normal job for the police ? In every siviliced country the police is watching and catching every day the year around. In thailand they just does crackdowns now and there ??? Whats the point ? Crackdowns in every aspects makes the crimes going on.

[beammeup]

There was a huge problem of motorbike sing in my town for years. They installed some speed bumps on the long straights and no more racers. problem solved.