Thread: One place where everyone wears a helmet

Nation
Chiang Mai’s Maejo University (MJU) has earned praise as a model educational institute for succeeding in getting all of its motorcycle-riding students to wear safety helmets.

MJU Division of Student Affairs director Sukij Tidchai said the school had to confront the cold statistic of an average of 10 students dying yearly in road accidents. Most were riding motorcycles without a helmet. Others died because they ignored other traffic regulations.


So the university launched a safety campaign that included raising awareness and strictly enforcing traffic regulations.





It imposed four rules. Motorcycle riders not wearing a helmet couldn’t enter the school grounds. Everyone on a motorcycle had to wear a helmet on roads within the campus. Failure to do so resulted in 10 disciplinary points being deducted, and if the score fell 40 points, the student was suspended from classes and disciplinary punishment was initiated.


The campaign ended up boosting helmet use from 30 per cent in 2012 to 100 per cent last year.


In 2012 there were 11 road-accident deaths and 694 injuries among students and school personnel. Last year there were three deaths and 54 injuries, Sukij said.


The success prompted the university to expand the campaign to neighbouring communities, he added.


Rungrawin Kengkaj and Teerachai Yenjai, both freshmen in the Faculty of Agricultural Production, said they welcomed the helmet rules because they improved safety and were easy enough to abide by.


“Once you make it a habit, you just automatically do it, not only around the campus but outside as well,” Rungrawin said.




One place where everyone wears a helmet

That just leaves the rest of the country to convince. One small step is better than no steps, though.

Originally Posted by Neverna

That just leaves the rest of the country to convince. One small step is better than no steps

Yes, but when "only" 3 deaths on campus occurring is counted as a success, it indicates there's a huge mountain to climb with those tiny steps.
It's not as if there are high speed motorways on campus, it's not as if uneducated peasants or drunk angry old men are tearing around, and there's still road deaths! And they were wearing helmets, apparently. It beggars belief.
And these people are supposed to be Thailand's intellectual future.

Doesn't say, on campus, in the report.

Originally Posted by misskit

It imposed four rules. Motorcycle riders not wearing a helmet couldn’t enter the school grounds. Everyone on a motorcycle had to wear a helmet on roads within the campus. Failure to do so resulted in 10 disciplinary points being deducted, and if the score fell 40 points, the student was suspended from classes and disciplinary punishment was initiated.

They tried a similar thing at the local school. Kids just parked their bikes at family/friend houses close to the school. It now seems to have been forgotten about and life goes on.

Maybe if they implemented a law on proper helmets

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Maybe if they implemented a law on proper helmets

Yup, Motorcycle Helmets save lives... plastic hats - not so much.

Originally Posted by Begbie

Doesn't say, on campus, in the report.

No it didn't, specifically. It is most certainly implied though.

Originally Posted by misskit

It imposed four rules. Motorcycle riders not wearing a helmet couldn’t enter the school grounds. Everyone on a motorcycle had to wear a helmet on roads within the campus. Failure to do so resulted in 10 disciplinary points being deducted, and if the score fell 40 points, the student was suspended from classes and disciplinary punishment was initiated.


The campaign ended up boosting helmet use from 30 per cent in 2012 to 100 per cent last year.


In 2012 there were 11 road-accident deaths and 694 injuries among students and school personnel. Last year there were three deaths and 54 injuries, Sukij said.

And.... TIT, where in Thialand can a person say only 3 deaths occurred in a year unless it was within a clearly demarcated area?
With 50 odd road toll deaths per day in the country, I can confidently state that in my soi zero deaths occurred in the last year.

I do sports there, this operation is a success because it's an enclosed campus with about 4 entry gates manned with guards... You can't slip through.
Students don't park outside as the gates are quite far from the buildings...

In addition there's a 30km/h speed limit within the campus, speed bumps, bike lanes...

It feels quite safe and relaxed ...there are places dedicated to practice running but people can run on the campus roads (for much longer laps with fewer runners around) without feeling at risk.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

TIT, where in Thialand can a person say only 3 deaths occurred in a year unless it was within a clearly demarcated area?

They are talking about road accident deaths of Maejo University students and staff. It's not difficult for the university to collate such statistics. The clear demarcation is between students and staff v other citizens (who are not-currently students or staff at Maejo University). That's my reading of the article anyway.