Phuket helmet crackdown

[FarangRed]

Monday, October 4, 2010

Phuket helmet crackdown to cover entire island from January 1

Three youths on a motorbike, all without helmets, ride against the traffic on Thepkrasattri Road in Koh Kaew.

Kathu Police Superintendent Arayapan Pukbuakao (front) and Kathu Traffic Division Inspector Jakkawat Boontawegunsawat (pillion) on a campaign sign along the beach road in Patong.

PHUKET: Police across Phuket are preparing to take the helmet crackdown campaign beyond Phuket City Police District to cover the entire island, effective January 1.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Pekad Tantipong told the Gazette the move to enforce the traffic law island-wide follows the success of the campaign launched in Phuket Town.

“Since [the campaign was launched on] July 1, people in Phuket Town have been more aware of the importance of wearing helmets. Now we rarely see motorcycle riders and passengers without helmets, so I am expanding this campaign to come into force across all of Phuket.”

He assigned the superintendent at each police station on the island to set a team up to promote the campaign and inform residents of the impending crackdown.

The teams will also ask private and government organizations in their areas to support the campaign by donating helmets.

From January 1, the punishment for passengers found riding without a helmet will be the same as for those in town: First-time offenders must watch the mandatory road-safety and traffic law film.

From July 1 next year, repeat offenders – at least those in Phuket City Police District – will be fined.

Maj Gen Pekad called for universal support for the campaign. “It will set a very good example for other provinces to follow,” he said.

In Patong, campaign posters featuring Kathu Police Superintendent Arayapan Pukbuakao and Kathu Traffic Division Inspector Jakkawat Boontawegunsawat, both wearing helmets while sitting on a motorcycle, have been posted throughout the municipality.

“We are drafting an MoU [memorandum of understanding] for private and government agencies and community leaders to sign to acknowledge and support the crackdown next year,” Col Arayapan said.

The MoU being drafted aims to have organizations introduce separate punishments for their own staff caught breaking the law.

Such measures have already been introduced at several businesses and schools on the island, including at Prince of Songkla University Phuket campus in Kathu last month.

At Chalong Police Station, Superintendent Wichit Intorrasorn said, “We launched our public awareness campaign today [September 30], with messages broadcast on radio, printed in newspapers and on websites, and on wooden cutouts of police officers placed along roadsides throughout the area.”

From January 1, first-time offenders in Chalong will have to watch the mandatory road-safety film, but a date had yet to be set for when the fines will be introduced, he added.

Tah Chat Chai Police Superintendent Sakchai Limcharoen said, “Our campaign banners are being made right now, but we have already started warning motorcycle riders and passengers passing through the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint that the crackdown is coming.”

Cherng Talay Police Superintendent Col Witoon Gongsudjai told the Gazette his troopers were drawing up their campaign plans.

Meanwhile, Thung Thong Police Superintendent Kraithong Chanthongbai said his district will not make up posters promoting the campaign, but will set up road checkpoints to warn motorbike riders and passengers found without helmets about the impending crackdown.

[the dogcatcher]

Spend all that money on a campaign and the English is still shit.

[artist]

How many days will it last?

[FarangRed]

upto you

[crippen]

How many days will it last?

Until they have taken enough money!

[Mr Earl]

Nothing new!

They've been "cracking down" for several years now. Most people wear their helmets now anyhow.

The nasty side effect to these so called "crack downs" is helmets get stolen more often now.

It's been spreading to other places like Ranong too.

Last night I saw a couple of sneaky BIB here in Ranong zinging motorcyclists without helmets. They were nabbing people right after they made a left at a certain traffic light at about 19:00. A few months ago they were zinging school kids on their way home in the afternoon.

[Gerbil]

Meanwhile, Thung Thong Police Superintendent Kraithong Chanthongbai said his district will not make up posters promoting the campaign, but will set up road checkpoints

I wonder why.....

[FarangRed]

My wife had her helmet stolen outside Central a while ago, what the BIB going to do with the ones carrying babies with them on the bike?

[glassdude007]

normal Thais here in Rawai barely have enough money to eat how are they supose to pay helmet law fines while riding there uninsured unregistered side car motorbikes with no license and four family members on board ??
never will be enforce or if it is it will be for a week or two then after that it will be falongs only getting stopped....WELCOME TO THAILAND..

[peterpan]

Do these scumbag cops think that having a poster of themselves will provide any incentive for citizens to wear helmets, Thai hate cops even more than I do.

If they wanted to have a real motorcycle saftey campaign, thye should do one featuring this guy
:


Ratthapark Wilairot Thai Moto GP rider and one that all THai biker riders genuinely admire, they would listen to anything that Wilairot said.

[Gerbil]

^^ so it's alright to ignore laws if you can't afford to obey them?

[FarangRed]

I would have thought it better to have General road safety clamp down rather than just targeting no helmets.

In Rawai it's not stopped raining 2 days, people riding bikes one handed holding an umbrella one false move and there off the bike.

As most bikes there is no foot break they have umbrella i the left hand because the accelerator is on the rite then have to use the front break, I keep well back from them in my truck.

In the rain I find it better to have the helmet on