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

Smurkster · January 2, 2015

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.

not surprising, last year I was driving with my wife and two falang friends in the left lane turning left, the car in the lane next to me also turned left (when it was only a straight or right lane) clearly he was in the wrong, smashed up my car and the police officer standing nearby said we were in the wrong because "the left lane is a motorcycle lane" which was a HUGE crock of buffalo shit because I see cars in that lane all the time, but what happened was he saw three falangs in the car and they all thought "Hey, this is the perfect opportunity to make up all the rules on the spot" and they did. I was fuming, just like your friend, well deserved fumes I might add..12,000 Baht for Somchai's stupid mistake...cant even imagine what the outcome would be if the roles were reversed, but I can tell you it wouldn't be the same....

For me that was the straw that broke the camels back in regards to my true feelings for this place, a year and a half later I am still here, but that incident shaped the way i view this place and more importantly its people. It may sound silly and trivial but it really was a good insight and read into how the minds of these people work and i didn't like what I saw.

Smurkster · January 2, 2015

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.

your step daughter has "broken the mold" so to speak and is thinking like a rational person, heaven knows that is a rarity

Villy Pedersen · January 2, 2015

Gentlemen please!

it is survival training!
If the kis survives 100 bumps and at least 3 carcrashes

then the kid have the skills to drive in Thailand.

it the kid dies: well yea then kid wont be a danger to anyone.

it is actually very simple.

It is we from more evolved areas of the world that have to adjust to

survival of the fittest.

NoshowJones · January 2, 2015

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.

I do agree with your post except that you allow your 13 year old son to ride a motorbike out on the roads, that is what your saying isn't it? Don't you ever think that he could very easily be responsible for the death or injury of other road users who are on the road legally? You do understand he is not insured, can you afford the medical bills of anyone who your son could injure including himself? There are about 70 motorcyclists killed on Thailand roads every day, how many of them are underage, or are dead because people like you think it's ok to let your underage son ride a motorbike on the roads.

At least you are big enough to admit you allow it, now be big enough to stop it, and wait until he's 15, and can legally ride a 110 cc bike.

Andre0720 · January 2, 2015

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...?

I know that you do know that in Thailand, if you injur or kill someone on a motorbike, whether you have a driving licence or not, it is the same.

The hospitals will cover the costs for a minimal amount.

People may try to get compensation for material damage. If lucky, they will get something.

Thailand is a country where responsibility in an alien concept. in more ways than just on the roads...

stevenl · January 2, 2015

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

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.

not surprising, last year I was driving with my wife and two falang friends in the left lane turning left, the car in the lane next to me also turned left (when it was only a straight or right lane) clearly he was in the wrong, smashed up my car and the police officer standing nearby said we were in the wrong because "the left lane is a motorcycle lane" which was a HUGE crock of buffalo shit because I see cars in that lane all the time, but what happened was he saw three falangs in the car and they all thought "Hey, this is the perfect opportunity to make up all the rules on the spot" and they did. I was fuming, just like your friend, well deserved fumes I might add..12,000 Baht for Somchai's stupid mistake...cant even imagine what the outcome would be if the roles were reversed, but I can tell you it wouldn't be the same....
For me that was the straw that broke the camels back in regards to my true feelings for this place, a year and a half later I am still here, but that incident shaped the way i view this place and more importantly its people. It may sound silly and trivial but it really was a good insight and read into how the minds of these people work and i didn't like what I saw.

So because you see cars there all the time it can't be a motorcycle lane?

If a motorbike riding on the sidewalk gets hit by a car turning left, the bike is in the wrong, just as it sounds you were in the wrong.

Smurkster · January 2, 2015

not surprising, last year I was driving with my wife and two falang friends in the left lane turning left, the car in the lane next to me also turned left (when it was only a straight or right lane) clearly he was in the wrong, smashed up my car and the police officer standing nearby said we were in the wrong because "the left lane is a motorcycle lane" which was a HUGE crock of buffalo shit because I see cars in that lane all the time, but what happened was he saw three falangs in the car and they all thought "Hey, this is the perfect opportunity to make up all the rules on the spot" and they did. I was fuming, just like your friend, well deserved fumes I might add..12,000 Baht for Somchai's stupid mistake...cant even imagine what the outcome would be if the roles were reversed, but I can tell you it wouldn't be the same....

For me that was the straw that broke the camels back in regards to my true feelings for this place, a year and a half later I am still here, but that incident shaped the way i view this place and more importantly its people. It may sound silly and trivial but it really was a good insight and read into how the minds of these people work and i didn't like what I saw.

So because you see cars there all the time it can't be a motorcycle lane?
If a motorbike riding on the sidewalk gets hit by a car turning left, the bike is in the wrong, just as it sounds you were in the wrong.

I was definitely not in the wrong, I made a few follow up queries after the accident, it is not soley a motorcycle lane it was just an attempt to make up rules on the spot, for the guilty party to get out of any responsibility. I'll glady take responsibility for something that was my fault, but like mentioned on this thread here, Accountibility and responsibility are two alien concepts.

Chwooly · January 2, 2015

Other your home country and Pattaya, have any of you ever done any traveling? The stupidity in your comments would say no. This is not a Thai problem. It happens in Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Kuwait, UAE, and every country in Africa I have traveled to. I have seen it in small towns in Italy and Germany. In some places in the US you can drive as young as 14.

So for all of you that are oh so smarter and better, just remember your living and spending your money in their country and all your whining isn't going to change a thing.

PS. Happy New Year

Smurkster · January 2, 2015

Other your home country and Pattaya, have any of you ever done any traveling? The stupidity in your comments would say no. This is not a Thai problem. It happens in Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Kuwait, UAE, and every country in Africa I have traveled to. I have seen it in small towns in Italy and Germany. In some places in the US you can drive as young as 14.

So for all of you that are oh so smarter and better, just remember your living and spending your money in their country and all your whining isn't going to change a thing.

PS. Happy New Year

it might not be "solely a Thai problem" but facts do say that other than Namibians Thais are the most dangerous, deadly accident prone drivers in the world. So while there may be many other places in the world with this problem, clearly there is a major issue here if it has the second highest motorist death rate in the world...some other sources say #6. and for all the "Cite your sources" Police, just do a quick google search and you will see that this is no joke

Chwooly · January 2, 2015

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

Other your home country and Pattaya, have any of you ever done any traveling? The stupidity in your comments would say no. This is not a Thai problem. It happens in Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Kuwait, UAE, and every country in Africa I have traveled to. I have seen it in small towns in Italy and Germany. In some places in the US you can drive as young as 14.

So for all of you that are oh so smarter and better, just remember your living and spending your money in their country and all your whining isn't going to change a thing.

PS. Happy New Year

it might not be "solely a Thai problem" but facts do say that other than Namibians Thais are the most dangerous, deadly accident prone drivers in the world. So while there may be many other places in the world with this problem, clearly there is a major issue here if it has the second highest motorist death rate in the world...some other sources say #6. and for all the "Cite your sources" Police, just do a quick google search and you will see that this is no joke

Actually having looked it up as you suggested, your correct about Thai accident fatality number being number 2 or 4 depending on source, which beggars the question. Is it because of more accidents or lack of quality emergency response?

Smurkster · January 2, 2015

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

Other your home country and Pattaya, have any of you ever done any traveling? The stupidity in your comments would say no. This is not a Thai problem. It happens in Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Kuwait, UAE, and every country in Africa I have traveled to. I have seen it in small towns in Italy and Germany. In some places in the US you can drive as young as 14.

So for all of you that are oh so smarter and better, just remember your living and spending your money in their country and all your whining isn't going to change a thing.

PS. Happy New Year

it might not be "solely a Thai problem" but facts do say that other than Namibians Thais are the most dangerous, deadly accident prone drivers in the world. So while there may be many other places in the world with this problem, clearly there is a major issue here if it has the second highest motorist death rate in the world...some other sources say #6. and for all the "Cite your sources" Police, just do a quick google search and you will see that this is no joke

Actually having looked it up as you suggested, your correct about Thai accident fatality number being number 2 or 4 depending on source, which beggars the question. Is it because of more accidents or lack of quality emergency response?

I think if it were for a lack of quality emergency response, some other less developed country would be at the top instead of LOS. just imagine how bad it would be if this country didn't have decent roads...

Chwooly · January 2, 2015

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

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

Other your home country and Pattaya, have any of you ever done any traveling? The stupidity in your comments would say no. This is not a Thai problem. It happens in Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Kuwait, UAE, and every country in Africa I have traveled to. I have seen it in small towns in Italy and Germany. In some places in the US you can drive as young as 14.

So for all of you that are oh so smarter and better, just remember your living and spending your money in their country and all your whining isn't going to change a thing.

PS. Happy New Year

it might not be "solely a Thai problem" but facts do say that other than Namibians Thais are the most dangerous, deadly accident prone drivers in the world. So while there may be many other places in the world with this problem, clearly there is a major issue here if it has the second highest motorist death rate in the world...some other sources say #6. and for all the "Cite your sources" Police, just do a quick google search and you will see that this is no joke

Actually having looked it up as you suggested, your correct about Thai accident fatality number being number 2 or 4 depending on source, which beggars the question. Is it because of more accidents or lack of quality emergency response?

I think if it were for a lack of quality emergency response, some other less developed country would be at the top instead of LOS. just imagine how bad it would be if this country didn't have decent roads...

The reason I ask that question is I have only seen quality emergency response near hospitals. I am sure you remember the story a few weeks ago about 2 emergency response teams shooting it out.

Ace of Pop · January 2, 2015

Recon a few of You failed the Breath Test,but still posted.

bowerboy · January 2, 2015

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.

There is only one thing more annoying/irritating/irresponsible/pathetic than uneducated and simpleton Thai's doing absurdly stupid things...and that is when Farangs decide to copy them in some sort of a misplaced attempt to "integrate"...

phuketguyhere74 · January 2, 2015

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 have heard this said numerous times but I have yet to see anyone that looks younger than 18 working in a bar. I've been here a few years in Phuket in Patong in Rawai in kata and Karin and many times on Nana in BKK and I have never seen this. Not even someone that looks questionable and that is difficult with Asians in general looking young. I just haven't seen it.

Mudcrab · January 2, 2015

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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!!

Perhaps Thailand is not for you?

NanLaew · January 2, 2015

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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.

not surprising, last year I was driving with my wife and two falang friends in the left lane turning left, the car in the lane next to me also turned left (when it was only a straight or right lane) clearly he was in the wrong, smashed up my car and the police officer standing nearby said we were in the wrong because "the left lane is a motorcycle lane" which was a HUGE crock of buffalo shit because I see cars in that lane all the time, but what happened was he saw three falangs in the car and they all thought "Hey, this is the perfect opportunity to make up all the rules on the spot" and they did. I was fuming, just like your friend, well deserved fumes I might add..12,000 Baht for Somchai's stupid mistake...cant even imagine what the outcome would be if the roles were reversed, but I can tell you it wouldn't be the same....
For me that was the straw that broke the camels back in regards to my true feelings for this place, a year and a half later I am still here, but that incident shaped the way i view this place and more importantly its people. It may sound silly and trivial but it really was a good insight and read into how the minds of these people work and i didn't like what I saw.

So because you see cars there all the time it can't be a motorcycle lane?
If a motorbike riding on the sidewalk gets hit by a car turning left, the bike is in the wrong, just as it sounds you were in the wrong.

Is this your first sh!t-stirring post for 2015?

Congratulations!

Regardless if there had been such an thing as a 'motorcycle lane', any traffic making a legal left turn would still have to enter it or cross it to make the exit. The muppet in the middle 'straight ahead' lane to the immediate right of the complainant was your typical arrogant local who can't wait in line and decided to cut in front... like they do millions of time every day all over this land of erudite and polite drivers.

Do you imagine that there is anywhere in this country where motorcycle drivers would willingly restrict themselves to staying in any designated 'motorcycle lane' when the cops aint out there? When I was working in Bangok I encountered a few of these but the bikes tended to go where they wanted and cars tended to fill the wasted space. Police don't enforce anything until after the fact... as the complainant affirmed.

BTW, I have never, ever seen any Thai driver double parking. But I have seen hundreds just stop driving.

balo · January 2, 2015

TIT , I think we should accept the fact that kids are on the roads with their bikes, most of them do not drink alcohol and are less dangerous in the traffic than many adults .

But If it was my kids I would never allow them to grow up in Thailand under these "rules" or Thai norm if you like.

Thai families don't care so much about this , some times you wonder if they feel their kids are replaceable, maybe thats why they live in big families.... to make sure some of them survives the stupidity.....

Btw, this is not only a Thai problem , Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam same same .

redandyellow · January 2, 2015

It's a chronic, systemic, un addressed problem.

signed,

P ri rities

dave_boo · January 2, 2015

128 dead in 2 days means 0.00178% of the population per day. Wonder how many people died of coronaries worry about things in that number of days.

eldragon · January 2, 2015

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 have heard this said numerous times but I have yet to see anyone that looks younger than 18 working in a bar. I've been here a few years in Phuket in Patong in Rawai in kata and Karin and many times on Nana in BKK and I have never seen this. Not even someone that looks questionable and that is difficult with Asians in general looking young. I just haven't seen it.

Well... there definitely are. Look closer. You'll see it. And if you don't, just ask some of those girls how old they are, or were when they started working in the bars. Actually, they probably won't admit it. But ask their friends. They'll tell you.

Thaiberius · January 2, 2015

it's virtually impossible to travel any distance at all and not witness a serious or fatal accident.

Hmmmm . . . a little dramatic wouldn't you say?

I can see your point but for any journey lasting more than a couple of hours on a motorway you'll almost certainly see some type of shunt and with the speeds involved ...........

dotpoom · January 2, 2015

"ever been taught how to give way,".

Who's going to teach them that knows about it themselves.

IMHO · January 2, 2015

"ever been taught how to give way,".

Who's going to teach them that knows about it themselves.

Very good point - there's been a couple of threads here recently that have shown that most posters here don't know either.

malt25 · January 3, 2015

OP. If you live here in LOS & have time to worry about this & ask the question here on the forum, you have too much time on your hands. Get a hobby.

Cheers..... Mal.

lvr181 · January 3, 2015

Why? Because they can!

Why? It is Police persons family? It is hiso family? Who cares about injury or death?

So sad really, but not about to change anytime soon. That is the only reality!

transam · January 3, 2015

OP. If you live here in LOS & have time to worry about this & ask the question here on the forum, you have too much time on your hands. Get a hobby.

Cheers..... Mal.

Fink thats a post.......... ...........We do like to debate on different stuff and this topic is being debated, hence the number of replies chap............

jacky54 · January 3, 2015

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.

NO they don't have to

WitawatWatawit · January 3, 2015

I like the post about the left hand lane being only for motorcycles. That cracked me up. It's a new one on me. But maybe some locals do believe it - it might explain why so many turn left from the second lane.

Sviss Geez · January 3, 2015

it's virtually impossible to travel any distance at all and not witness a serious or fatal accident.

Hmmmm . . . a little dramatic wouldn't you say?

Completely untrue also.

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