Thread: CCTV to catch motorcyclists without helmets to be launched in Chiang Mai on Dec 15th

Chiang Mai will launch a smart CCTV system on December 15th, designed to catch motorcyclists and pillion riders who do not wear crash helmets, to reduce road casualties involving motorcycles.


The system was jointly developed by the Safer Roads Foundation and the Provincial Traffic Accident Prevention Planning Office. For the initial stage, the system has been installed at 16 locations in Muang district and another 8 in Sansai, Saraphee, Hang Dong and Mae Rim districts.


Dr. Thiravuth Komutbutr, an expert attached to the Provincial Traffic Accident Prevention Planning Office, said today that there are about one million motorcycles in Chiang Mai, of which 600,000-700,000 are in Muang district.


He disclosed that 70% of the road accidents involving motorcycles occur at night, when fewer people on motorcycles wear crash helmets because the roads are quiet.


About 80% of the deaths involving motorcycles are caused by head injuries.


The five districts were chosen as part of the pilot project because of the high number of fatalities involving motorcyclists and pillion riders.


Pol Lt-Col Supachai Chanthra, deputy superintendent of traffic police, admitted that a campaign to encourage people on motorcycles to wear crash helmets has not been successful. He hopes that the new system will help change their habits.


Tasanee Silpabutr, representative of the Safer Roads Foundation, said that more than 20,000 people die from road accidents in Thailand each year, many times more than deaths caused by COVID-19.


With the new system being operational before the New Year festival, she expects fewer deaths involving motorcycles.


The 13-million baht project is funded by the Safer Roads Foundation.


https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cctv-to...i-on-dec-15th/

Originally Posted by misskit

The 13-million baht project is funded by the Safer Roads Foundation.

Could have bought a few of those useless cue ball helmets with that

I must plead guilty as I have often not worn a helmet around the small local Sois although on the connecting roads large or small I do. Whereas in Oz I have six helmets that I use depending on temperature, ride, distance etc.
I shall be more conscientious in the future.
It is quite evident from one of our less popular posters who shall remain nameless... (cyrille)... sorry that slipped out, what a devestating injury irreversible brain damage can be and how sad and pathetic one becomes from said injury. I for one after seeing such a horrendous loss of any form of intelligence will be scrupulous in obeying the helmet law in future, after all, who would want to end up in such a sad vegetative state as a certain poster (cyrille).... sorry... slipped out again. One can only hope that euthanasia laws are introduced sooner rather than later, so that he can finally be unburdened of this sad vegetative existence. I, as I'm sure many others on TD, wil pray for that day.

One could argue Death is infinitely better than being a paraplegic if your in a poor Thai family. For all concerned. I still find it hard to work out how it happened but a friend back in the day (I was 19) tried to race a train at a level crossing and collided with the locomotive. He was wearing a helmet but died from his injuries anyway. So it was possible for the family to have an open casket funeral.