stopped for no helmet

by **izzix** » August 31, 2006, 1:30 am

i was biking thru Thai Bo and got pulled over for wearing no helmet ,just a cap. no fine though just a formality to put on my helmet which was with me.
the strange thing is pillions dont need one !

by **valentine** » August 31, 2006, 8:19 am

izzix wrote:i was biking thru Thai Bo and got pulled over for wearing no helmet ,just a cap. no fine though just a formality to put on my helmet which was with me.
the strange thing is pillions dont need one !

To me the strange thing is you had a helmet but weren't wearing it. :roll:

by **JimboPSM** » August 31, 2006, 8:32 am

There are two types of westerners in Thailand who ride a bike without a helmet, the brain dead and those who are about to become brain dead

by **Bandung_Dero** » August 31, 2006, 8:49 am

Thais get fined you should have been as well.
And when the BIB get their money from you, hows the saying go :- "Som Nam Nah"

by **Paul** » August 31, 2006, 9:03 am

I have ridden bikes for many years - including some rather large bikes too.
The law says you must wear a helmet when riding a motorcyle so if you choose not to for whatever reason then you cannot complain if caught!
I have no qualms about those who choose not to - Its personal choice and we all know the risks -however the chances of getting stopped and fined are increasing all the time - therefore it just makes for an easier life to put the helmet on and prevent always looking to see if there is a checkpoint and making your heart race when there is.

The one thing that really really annoys me though is hypocritical people. How many policemen have you seen riding without a helmet ? for me - many !

I also cannot get my head around people who carry their helmets or otherwise - because then it just seems that they are being defiant because , simply. they realise they should be wearing it - but appear to want to get one over on the police - or something.

Tottering around the sois visiting Auntie Betty in the next soi - to me is harmless. helmet or not.
And before all those strike me down for saying so - and you could fall off your bike anywhere etc - you could also equally - whilst walking get hit by a car in a soi or a main road.
Its all about risk analysis.
There are probrably very few people who would own up (truthfully) to never having sat on a motorbike without a helmet - even once.

I sense those keyboards hotting up already. Standing by

by **BKKSTAN** » August 31, 2006, 9:45 am

I agree with everything Paul just said :!:

Personal choice prevails!Including ''risks''and the right to complain about the consequences of one's actions,whether ''right'' or ''wrong'' :!:

I hate to give up my personal ''freedoms'' and the feeling is compounded by hypocritical actions of the enforcers!Their selective timing of enforcement,their personal disregard for the ''laws''and the abuse of their ''power'' in various situations,are my main ''beefs'' :!:

Most the helmuts I see people wearing,not all,will not help in any way if their is an accident,other than save some skin loss!''Safer'' helmuts also have a downside of decreasing awareness capabilities,But,to each,his own :!:

I don't ride motorcycles,I think the risk of injury is to great for someone my age.If I did,I would want ''the freedom of choice'' about wearing a helmut or not.In Thailand,the ''fine'' is worth paying for the ''freedom'' felt

by **valentine** » August 31, 2006, 9:47 am

I think this is staying on topic.September is the last month of statistic reporting for all police departments. What this means in reality is that all those targets set 12 months ago for crime detection, revenue income from fines and all performance rated issues, all mature at the end of this month. Based on this the salary levels for next year are set.Now I know that many police dept heads are starting a purge as from tomorrow, to get those figures up, their job could depend on it. Locally all cops have been refused leave of absence and some shifts have been doubled, they have got to get more fine revenue and crimes on the books.I don't have to say what this means to us all , as road users.This is not your usual month end Chivas collection, this is big bucks. :wink:

by **BKKSTAN** » August 31, 2006, 10:11 am

valentine wrote:I think this is staying on topic.September is the last month of statistic reporting for all police departments. What this means in reality is that all those targets set 12 months ago for crime detection, revenue income from fines and all performance rated issues, all mature at the end of this month. Based on this the salary levels for next year are set.Now I know that many police dept heads are starting a purge as from tomorrow, to get those figures up, their job could depend on it. Locally all cops have been refused leave of absence and some shifts have been doubled, they have got to get more fine revenue and crimes on the books.I don't have to say what this means to us all , as road users.This is not your usual month end Chivas collection, this is big bucks.

Very interesting Val,probably less personal ''money stops'',but more helmut enforcement along woth registration infractions.Maybe more attention to having your passport in your possession,along with lawful driving license!

:lol:

Actually,IMO,they just want them to increase revenue past just writing enough tickets to get the officers 50%,up to 10,000 baht per month share!I used to laugh at the traffic problems caused by intersection traffic control police,when they focused on catching all the kids going to school on m/bikes w/o helmuts!They finally stopped that action and now they man several key intersections,in the town, throughout the day!

:wink:

Would not be surprised to see the morning and afternoon ritual begin again!Plus I would suspect that the ''regular checkpoints'',on the highways, will be more actively manned for longer time periods.They have got into ''several officers sitting/standing around mode'',versus actually ''checking cars''!

:lol:

Once the elections are over,normalcy should prevail :lol:

by **arjay** » August 31, 2006, 10:18 am

I too agree with what all the above have said about the wisdom of wearing a helmet on a motorbike. I would certainly wear one whether it was the law or not.

I believe it is the law (I've seen it advertised by the police in newspapers) that the pillion passenger must wear a helmet too, but assume the police choose not to or don't bother to enforce that part. The latter I was once told was because of the practical implications that motorbike taxis would have to carry a spare helmet for their customers/passengers.

by **BKKSTAN** » August 31, 2006, 11:22 am

The father and mother wear a helmut,the 2-3 kids no helmuts!

by **rickfarang** » August 31, 2006, 12:19 pm

Thanks for the warning, Val, I will be extra vigilant these next several weeks.

As for whether people shoudl wear helmets or not; A helmet is a basic safety item, as are headlights. If people are going to drive around on plublc roads, then they should do so responsibly, and that starts with personal safety. Besides that, its the law.

The headlights-on law is also an important safety law that I see being ignored. Fortunatley, they are now making motorbikes that do not have a headlight on/off switch, so the level of (involuntary) compliance is rising as new bikes are being sold.

by **laphanphon** » August 31, 2006, 12:46 pm

oh no, not me, yes i've ridden a bike once or twice without an helmet, even got a ticket in hua hin for it, and i really was just going around the corner, so didn't bother, 100 baht, thank you. but rarely, almost never without a helmet, worn, if on bike.

i personally would like to see the helmet law strictly enforced daily, because it does save lives. now, yea i know, don't forget were i am, would love to see the rest of the laws enforced, starting with, licenses, don't have, lose bike/car till you get. age, too young, lose bike till you are licensed. those 2 things would greatly reduce the number of deaths by motorbikes. also, i wouldn't yell and curse all day in the car and tell Gem, no, you can't say that.

the only thing i have a problem with, freedom to wear helmet or not, it's your life, so up to you, which i agree with. BUT, if you have an accident with me, whether my fault or yours, and you die from head trama, i get the screws for killing you, which, if you worn the damn thing, you might not of died.

being the boys in brown may be working overtime, maybe i'll get a hotel friday and saturday, as alcohol is on the schedule. again, not because i'll hit someone, but if they hit me, and i have that lovely fragrance, then i'm screwed, especially if it's a non helmeted suicider.