Why do Police allow children to drive on roads in Thailand?

[Smurkster]

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

unfortunately in Thailand being a parent does not involve using any common sense or taking any responsibility for your children. Parents buy/give their underage kids cars.bikes to drive/ride to school etc simply because it means they do not have to take them as they are too lazy and dont really care enough, unless it starts to involve big fines so that it hits their bank accounts it will continue. These so called parents do what ever it takes to save themselves having to do anything, being lazy is a big part of it, until we see big fines/or jail time etc it wont change, whats a few deaths of kids on the road illegally, they can always make more, as the thais say, doesnt matter

The Thai parents attitude seems to be,'it does not matter if my kid gets killed, we'll just go to bed and make another one'.

I wish that wasn't the attitude here, but unfortunately it seems to be very prevalent

mai pen rai can be a great way of thinking, it can also be deadly and destructive. A child dying on a motorcycle accident, no helmet and he/she was driving, that isn't really a Mai pen Rai situation is it?

[prakhonchai nick]

Some years ago I asked a policeman who happened to be drinking an early morning coffee in the market at my table. why the kids were never stopped.

His answer was that the Chief of Police in Bangkok had issued orders..."Don't touch the kids"

If that is still the situation, he should be replaced by someone who cares. And the teachers who allow the kids into school should be sacked, and the irresponsible parents/guardians who allow those under 15 to have./use bikes, should be very heavily fined, and the bikes confiscated.

Most Thai parents don't care about their kids - especially the boys. The girls have uses...they can go and sell their bodies at 15+, and will collect a dowry should they one day marry.

[Pinot]

I believe it's legal. They can drive to school and around the village. Insane but legal.

[Smurkster]

laws for things when there need not be and no laws for things when there should be

[UTH001]

I'm not sure, but it's probably the same reason you see 14 and 15 year old girls working the bars: b/c they have to.

I do not believe that, not these days, sorry! More likely because the parents want the money?

[benalibina]

unfortunately in Thailand being a parent does not involve using any common sense or taking any responsibility for your children. Parents buy/give their underage kids cars.bikes to drive/ride to school etc simply because it means they do not have to take them as they are too lazy and dont really care enough, unless it starts to involve big fines so that it hits their bank accounts it will continue. These so called parents do what ever it takes to save themselves having to do anything, being lazy is a big part of it, until we see big fines/or jail time etc it wont change, whats a few deaths of kids on the road illegally, they can always make more, as the thais say, doesnt matter

The Thai parents attitude seems to be,'it does not matter if my kid gets killed, we'll just go to bed and make another one'.

You wrote that before.....next time a new version please....

[Andre0720]

Some years ago I asked a policeman who happened to be drinking an early morning coffee in the market at my table. why the kids were never stopped.

His answer was that the Chief of Police in Bangkok had issued orders..."Don't touch the kids"

If that is still the situation, he should be replaced by someone who cares. And the teachers who allow the kids into school should be sacked, and the irresponsible parents/guardians who allow those under 15 to have./use bikes, should be very heavily fined, and the bikes confiscated.

Most Thai parents don't care about their kids - especially the boys. The girls have uses...they can go and sell their bodies at 15+, and will collect a dowry should they one day marry.

Get used to it.

This is the way it is in Thailand.

And I do not see any problems with it.

So many of my Thai friends have children driivng motorbikes to school, and come back safely home, No more danger than on a bicycle.

Everybody knows that students can go to school driving motorbikes, and they all know that the police will not stop them.

[transam]

Some years ago I asked a policeman who happened to be drinking an early morning coffee in the market at my table. why the kids were never stopped.

His answer was that the Chief of Police in Bangkok had issued orders..."Don't touch the kids"

If that is still the situation, he should be replaced by someone who cares. And the teachers who allow the kids into school should be sacked, and the irresponsible parents/guardians who allow those under 15 to have./use bikes, should be very heavily fined, and the bikes confiscated.

Most Thai parents don't care about their kids - especially the boys. The girls have uses...they can go and sell their bodies at 15+, and will collect a dowry should they one day marry.

Get used to it.

This is the way it is in Thailand.

And I do not see any problems with it.

So many of my Thai friends have children driivng motorbikes to school, and come back safely home, No more danger than on a bicycle.

Everybody knows that students can go to school driving motorbikes, and they all know that the police will not stop them.

So what if these kids kill someone, having no license or insurance for the ride...?

[bbbbooboo]

Stupid IS what stupid DOES?

[Smurkster]

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

Some years ago I asked a policeman who happened to be drinking an early morning coffee in the market at my table. why the kids were never stopped.

His answer was that the Chief of Police in Bangkok had issued orders..."Don't touch the kids"

If that is still the situation, he should be replaced by someone who cares. And the teachers who allow the kids into school should be sacked, and the irresponsible parents/guardians who allow those under 15 to have./use bikes, should be very heavily fined, and the bikes confiscated.

Most Thai parents don't care about their kids - especially the boys. The girls have uses...they can go and sell their bodies at 15+, and will collect a dowry should they one day marry.

Get used to it.

This is the way it is in Thailand.

And I do not see any problems with it.

So many of my Thai friends have children driivng motorbikes to school, and come back safely home, No more danger than on a bicycle.

Everybody knows that students can go to school driving motorbikes, and they all know that the police will not stop them.

So what if these kids kill someone, having no license or insurance for the ride...?

apparently that's "just the way it goes"

[eldragon]

I'm not sure, but it's probably the same reason you see 14 and 15 year old girls working the bars: b/c they have to.

I do not believe that, not these days, sorry! More likely because the parents want the money?

You need to see a little bit more of TH. Granted, you could make the argument that these parents should work a little more and/or gamble/drink/drug a little less. But if the money is not there, they send the kids to work wherever they can make the most money.

[Smurkster]

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

I'm not sure, but it's probably the same reason you see 14 and 15 year old girls working the bars: b/c they have to.

I do not believe that, not these days, sorry! More likely because the parents want the money?

You need to see a little bit more of TH. Granted, you could make the argument that these parents should work a little more and/or gamble/drink/drug a little less. But if the money is not there, they send the kids to work wherever they can make the most money.

Nothing makes them holla, like the all mighty dollar

Hot to trot to make a few baht!

[lor]

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

OP how do you expect them to get to school? That's how my mate's ex put it to him when he asked her. And she's a teacher.

I've heard the same up here in Phitsanulok. They seem to totally ignore the kids between the going to/coming from school periods.

The two most dangerous times of the day on the roads.................

Was at a conference in City Hall Pattaya. They were explaining the Thai law system. Pattaya's chief of police was asked this same question and an example was made of a particular school. In reply he laughed and said his children go to that school, but if they stopped the children from driving motorbikes, even when 3 or 4 on the same bike, then the parents would not send the children to school anymore. So he thought it was best the police look the other way.

But it is not just for the to and from school trips that they are allowed to drive. Children drive throughout the day and night and the police never do anything about it. But, as one poster said, "This is Thailand" get used to it. It will never change.

Chris

[seedy]

Most Thai parents don't care about their kids - especially the boys. The girls have uses...they can go and sell their bodies at 15+, and will collect a dowry should they one day marry.

What complete and utter BS !

[bbbbooboo]

Thai people seated on the back of pickups are already dead. They just haven't had their accident yet. Pathetic isn't it?

[spidermike007]

I.think the story about the captain was something he made up, to avoid embarrassment. What was he going to say? We do not like to practice the enforcement of the law?

[Mudcrab]

Dear oh dear ladies..settle down and stop shredding your nighties.

You sound like a bunch of Muslims who have seen their first uncovered woman.

Kids ride motorbikes here.

Kids fall off motorbikes and get hurt here.

Deal with it.

Very, very few of the kids I see around the village going to school three and four up are going very much faster than they would if they could afford decent bicycles.

The (older) idiots who get killed, generally speaking are on "proper" roads and have no helmets or are pissed.

Granted the young ones may grow up into these people, but save yourselves some stress and don't worry about it.

[NoshowJones]

unfortunately in Thailand being a parent does not involve using any common sense or taking any responsibility for your children. Parents buy/give their underage kids cars.bikes to drive/ride to school etc simply because it means they do not have to take them as they are too lazy and dont really care enough, unless it starts to involve big fines so that it hits their bank accounts it will continue. These so called parents do what ever it takes to save themselves having to do anything, being lazy is a big part of it, until we see big fines/or jail time etc it wont change, whats a few deaths of kids on the road illegally, they can always make more, as the thais say, doesnt matter

The Thai parents attitude seems to be,'it does not matter if my kid gets killed, we'll just go to bed and make another one'.

You wrote that before.....next time a new version please....

I wrote a lot of things before, as did most TV posters. It's a nice compliment that you remembered. I certainly can't remember off hand what other posters have written except where it involves me.

[The Deerhunter]

The police do not stop children who drive because the police are smart enough to know that a 10 year old probably does not have 200 baht to give the police if he is stopped.

Thai logic!

That,(#3) the fact that their school lunch money is smaller than a police bribe (#2) and (#1) "My Daddy's a policeman."

[Vogele123]

OP how do you expect them to get to school? That's how my mate's ex put it to him when he asked her. And she's a teacher.

There's plenty of school buses, and there are still lots of underage children riding motorbikes during the school holidays.

I have mixed feelings about this topic. Yes it is a bit strange the amount of kids riding motorbikes here, especially to school (my son is 13 and I actually encourage him to ride, but I also teach him how to try to look out for danger) The school he goes to has two cops and two School security on the road outside, each morning and afternoon, they do not give a toss about the kids riding bikes, NO HELMETS, 3 UP! crazy.

I think it is better to try and teach your kids how to drive safely (as safe as possible here) they get a bit of freedom and learn to look out for themselves, a bit of independence in a way.

What I really disagree with is the retards in my area that are allowed to drive kids to school in their clapped out shit trucks and minibuses, often seriously overloaded, driven by retards that are 70 or more years old that should not be allowed to drive a remote controlled car let alone a bus full of kids.

You see them every day, they pile all of the kids bags on the front windscreen leaving about 3 inches of clear filthy glass to see out of, these are the real hazards! Most of them cannot keep up with the traffic, have no idea of how to drive.

You cannot wrap kids in cotton wool, they want their freedom, I think the best thing you can do is to try to teach them the best you can to try to see what the dangers are out there. You can never predict everything, but you can try to give them a head start.

Buy them a decent helmet, some protective gear, jackets, gloves etc. and try to instill a rule that they wear all of the gear all of the time, it could save their lives. Kids learn very very quickly, so use it to your and their advantage.

[stevenl]

I believe it's legal. They can drive to school and around the village. Insane but legal.

No, it is not.

[12DrinkMore]

Can you imagine how much worse the over population problem would be in Thailand if the roads were safe to travel??

In a way, it's just a motorized version of natural selection.

Just go with the flow and yield the right of way!

555

P.S. Not traveling anywhere this week! I shall survive!

That's &lt;deleted&gt;.

It is only true if only the illegally driving and incompetent idiot was injured. Unfortunately there are road users who manage to negotiate the roads carefully, but who can be wiped out in an instant by an &lt;deleted&gt;.

[Shaunduhpostman]

Was glad to hear my step daughter got ahold of some old used bicycles for her sons who are 10 and 12 and therefore of driving age. She's not having it, doesn't want them using her scooter to ride to school or to the soccer field or what have you. They'll be riding bicycles like maybe half the kids I see in the village going to and from school, the rest of them riding scooters or on the back of a friend's bike. Nobody walks you'll get eaten by all the dogs.

[Tomtomtom69]

Does anyone remember seeing that Youtube video of an 8-year old girl DRIVING A CAR herself down in Southern Thailand somewhere recently? Absolutely amazingly stupid! But apparently in that case the police did intervene and forced the parents of the child to no longer allow the child to drive herself, and also handed out a fine. The child couldn't understand all the fuss and wanted to continue to be allowed driving because apparently she had never caused an accident before!

What annoys me is , she must have driven past and been spotted by numerous police officers , and nobody did anything about it till it went public.

Sadly you are right.

[dunque]

Stupid IS what stupid DOES?

Sounds like a succinct commentary on US gun laws - what with 2 year olds shooting their moms and all...

[NE1]

Another annoying aspect of all this , my mate in his truck got hit by one of these kids on a motor cycle.

The kid was in the wrong , but my mate had to pay for his medical bills and to get the bike fixed.

Needless to say he was bloody fuming to say the least.

P.S. and he had to pay to get his truck fixed.

So to all you mai bpen rai gang , it could be you next time.

[BSJ]

The thread title should be changed to "The Whine Lovers Thread". You lot are like a pack of old women!

[ttthailand]

Why ? It is to easy to just let them drive their motorbikes. If the kids did not drive the mothers would have to make an effort to take care of their kids properly. Most fathers are also not around to take the kids anywhere. In addition if you need something at the store why jump on the bike when you can send your 10 year old down to the store.

My gf just said that its because the police don't care so no one thinks its a problem.

[Thaiready]

nothing in it for them to stop it

more like they don't give a freak

[Smurkster]

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

Most Thai parents don't care about their kids - especially the boys. The girls have uses...they can go and sell their bodies at 15+, and will collect a dowry should they one day marry.

What complete and utter BS !

I would love to believe that it is Utter BS and of course not all or even most Thais feel this way, but I have heard some REALLLY questionable things. For example, there was a major accident in Nongbualamphu earlier this year that killed seven kids, whilst talking to some locals about the incident, the words "mai pen rai" were uttered in regards to the event....

So, the OP was wrong to say MOST thais don't care about their kids, but there is a huge element who don't.

The naive westerners are enchanted with Thailand, a lot of the time because of the Buddhism. The Faults that I see with buddhism in this country are many. I think in many aspects it promotes a reckless and careless culture, after all no big deal right, we have no control over anything anyway, so lets just let our daughters sell their bodies, let our sons be punks. HEY, Mai Mee Pan Ha!!