Bike helmet laws to be enforced in Koh Samui from March 1st

[webfact]

Bike helmet laws to be enforced in Koh Samui from March 1st

KOH SAMUI: -- A new motorbike campaign is getting under way in Koh Samui and will come into full force on March 1st.

All those on motorcycles are required to wear helmets and that goes for pillion passengers too! Posters are going up around the island to notify residents and visitors to the island that both the rider of the bike and passengers must wear helmets, those drivers failing to abide by the law will fined 500 baht for themselves and 1,000 baht for their passengers!

-- Samui Times 2016-02-19

[KMartinHandyman]

At those prices enforcement could catch on throughout Thailand. Fines of up to 1000฿ can be collected in the street I hear.

[z42]

Still think confiscation is a better solution personally

[tingtongfarang]

Could,nt they move back to april the 1st

[PS2]

Still think confiscation is a better solution personally

Don't think confiscating the helmets will solve anything.

[samuijimmy]

It's about time they properly enforced this, and for passengers too...

Same as Malaysia does....

[evadgib]

1. Let's hope there's no 'Thai price'.

2. Let's also hope that retail outlets are able to satisfy the demand for helmets in sizes that actually fit non-asian heads before this actually kicks off.

Yeah I know, "Thing(k) Too Mutt"

Edited February 19, 2016 by evadgib

[jerojero]

1. Let's hope there's no 'Thai price'.

2. Let's also hope that retail outlets are able to satisfy the demand for helmets in sizes that actually fit non-asian heads before this actually kicks off.

Yeah I know, "Thing(k) Too Mutt"

.. Let's hope there's actually some enforcement past the first weekend.

[Rhys]

How impressive that the Thai police are quite concerned about Safety.. all my best to the BIB... when does april fooles start?

[TheCruncher]

Bike helmet laws to be enforced in Koh Samui from March 1st

That's not too bad, after a grace period of about 19 years since it became law in the rest of the country.

[craigt3365]

It's about time they properly enforced this, and for passengers too...

Same as Malaysia does....

I saw a cop riding down the road here in Pattaya with no helmet on. Saw one in Bangkok last month doing the same thing. Next time, I'll try to take a picture! LOL

[samuijimmy]

It's about time they properly enforced this, and for passengers too...

Same as Malaysia does....

I saw a cop riding down the road here in Pattaya with no helmet on. Saw one in Bangkok last month doing the same thing. Next time, I'll try to take a picture! LOL

We see that on Samui too! I wonder if that will change too or whether they will pull over their own.....?

[carmine]

Ooooh, is that the time.........

Whens the next "crackdown" going to happen? What wilt be? Crackdown on tourists wearing bikinis on the the beach?

Presumably on March 2nd we can get back to normal and forget about this facade.

[maoro2013]

They are laws, in force for a long time. Why wait for 1/3 to start imp,ementing them. In my opinion the police are negligent in not enforcing these laws now. And what about all the kids riding motorbikes to school with no licence?

[bridge2bridge]

I hope they do it better than in Krabi.

Where they have signs put up with the fines that have to be paid.

BUT where you see MANY riders with NO helmets.

The saying LAWS WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN.

MUST have been written in Thailand.

[soalbundy]

so they are admitting that they haven't been doing their job and enforcing the law and wont be until March the 1st which after one week will fizzle out and be forgotten

[Deli]

Wearing an eggcup for THB 99 does the job...

[Morakot]

Wearing an eggcup for THB 99 does the job...

THB 99 that's really pushing the boat out..

Edited February 20, 2016 by Morakot

[masuk]

Still think confiscation is a better solution personally

yup. I believe it's Vietnam who confiscate the bikes for 48hrs. Then the bike can be collected after paying a fine and showing the new helmets.

[spidermike007]

Samui always has been, and remains the last bastion of utter lawlessness in Thailand. The previous helmet campaigns have always lasted only 10 hours. There has never been any sort of followup or consistency with anything bordering on public or traffic safety policy on Samui. They are some of the least talented and most incompetent police in the country. And the local officials display a level of indifference that is chilling. Though the island possesses the proud distinction of having the highest fatality rate in the world for traffic fatalities on motorbikes, has anyone in a position of power ever done anything about that? No. Do they care? No? Why? It is anyone's guess.

If they actually implemented something like this, it would be of great benefit to the long forgotten island of Samui, and it's residents and tourists. But, it remains to be seen whether these men are capable of following up anything, much less a real safety campaign. Let us hope for the best on this one. If it happens, it is 30 years overdue.

[brain150]

Funny how the sheep are cheering for their own enslavement !

1. Helmets are for PERSONAL safety and as such should be a PERSONAL choice

2. Helmets do NOT make traffic more safe !!!

Samui has no bigger problems I guess ... but that's not so popular like the Helmet-band-waggon BS !!!

[rodknock]

more dog and pony show

guess they need to fill up the brown bags!!!

[Tidybeard]

Funny how the sheep are cheering for their own enslavement !

1. Helmets are for PERSONAL safety and as such should be a PERSONAL choice

2. Helmets do NOT make traffic more safe !!!

Samui has no bigger problems I guess ... but that's not so popular like the Helmet-band-waggon BS !!!

If you believe that helmets are a personal choice, then I guess you will agree that the rescue teams who have to scrape your brains off the road following an accident also have a personal choice not to bother.... if you are too stupid to live in a reasonable society, then you cannot ask that society to look after you....

[connda]

Found another way to add to the BIB slush fund.

[rapom]

Funny how the sheep are cheering for their own enslavement !

1. Helmets are for PERSONAL safety and as such should be a PERSONAL choice

2. Helmets do NOT make traffic more safe !!!

Samui has no bigger problems I guess ... but that's not so popular like the Helmet-band-waggon BS !!!

Yes, helmets required by law are for personal safety and some riders personal choice is not to wear one then complain about having to pay a fine for not doing so. Either you do not care for your own personal safety or you have no respect for the law or maybe both. I chose to wear a helmet for my own protection and that makes it legal for me to ride. Been doing it for over 45 years. I also wear my seatbelt and require my passengers to also. I feel safer and it saves me money if I didn't. That's not BS.

[thhMan]

Funny how the sheep are cheering for their own enslavement !

1. Helmets are for PERSONAL safety and as such should be a PERSONAL choice

2. Helmets do NOT make traffic more safe !!!

Samui has no bigger problems I guess ... but that's not so popular like the Helmet-band-waggon BS !!!

If you believe that helmets are a personal choice, then I guess you will agree that the rescue teams who have to scrape your brains off the road following an accident also have a personal choice not to bother.... if you are too stupid to live in a reasonable society, then you cannot ask that society to look after you....

And the level of Hospital care that may increase, due to more severe head injuries...

So do the Insurance companies or the other party that was involved in an accident, also have a personal choice to cover the "non-wearing helmet" person for the extra expense needed?

[connda]

Funny how the sheep are cheering for their own enslavement !

1. Helmets are for PERSONAL safety and as such should be a PERSONAL choice

2. Helmets do NOT make traffic more safe !!!

Samui has no bigger problems I guess ... but that's not so popular like the Helmet-band-waggon BS !!!

If you believe that helmets are a personal choice, then I guess you will agree that the rescue teams who have to scrape your brains off the road following an accident also have a personal choice not to bother.... if you are too stupid to live in a reasonable society, then you cannot ask that society to look after you....

Bike helmet laws to be enforced in Koh Samui

OMG! How did I survive the 1950s and 1960s as I kid?

Edited February 20, 2016 by connda

[jamie2009]

Do they make helmets fot babies ? It's very common to see Dad and Mum on a bike,Mum carrying a very young baby or a an infant standing in front of the rider or both. It's the same old story, what's the point in fining them when they don't have the money to pay it.

Confiscate the bike and you would be accused of taking their livihood away from them, it's a never ending story with no practical solution.

[sn1per]

These helmet checks /roadblocks already happen at least once a month in Samui and have been for the past 15 years. If you know the secret sign,.... an oncoming rider pointing at his head (oh no I've let out the secret) you can turn around and take another route.

[Chongalulu]

Funny how the sheep are cheering for their own enslavement !

1. Helmets are for PERSONAL safety and as such should be a PERSONAL choice

2. Helmets do NOT make traffic more safe !!!

Samui has no bigger problems I guess ... but that's not so popular like the Helmet-band-waggon BS !!!

Rather sounds like you've had a bang on the head at sometime and forgotten about it. The extra burden on the health service (not paid by the rider) explains the widespread laws on this throughout the rest of the world. I suggest a 99 baht helmet in your case. A cheap helmet for a cheap head.