Thread: Child Car Seats Become Compulsory in Thailand, September 5th

Thailand’s Transport Ministry has finally made it compulsory for children under six to be secured in child car seats or booster seats as of September 5th, 2022.

The new law was announced in the Royal Gazette and is being made compulsory under the Land Traffic Act.


Children under the age of six must be restrained in a child car seat or a special booster seat for safety in moving vehicles. This is according to Section 123 of the law.


More details will be issued as per the specific regulations issued by the national police chief.


Children who cannot be fastened to a seat due to health or physical factors are exempt from the law. Mainly children in wheelchairs.


Nikorn Chamnog, deputy chairman of the House committee that examined changes to the Land Traffic Act, pointed out that car seats are expensive.


Child Car seats expensive


Most retail for more than 18,000 baht a piece. As a result, the amended law will permit the use of booster seat cushions priced at 600-700 baht each.

The cushion allows the passenger to sit high enough to be restrained effectively, according to Mr. Nikorn, who is also chairman of the World Health Organization’s Asia-Pacific Regional Network on Road Safety.


However, child safety advocates say allowing booster cushions instead of car seats takes away any real safety for the children the law was supposed to create.


Child safety advocates recommend keeping children in 5-point harnessed car seats for toddlers until they are at least 4 years old and 40 lbs or more.


A child booster seat can only protect children if they hold an adult’s seatbelt properly in place, according to child safety advocates. The seat belt often slips out of position in booster seats because younger children are less mature and can’t sit still in a booster seat. Toddler car seats should be used whenever possible.


Booster seats can be more dangerous than car seats


Children may also be irritated by the seat belt in a poorly fitting booster, causing them to try to put the shoulder portion of the belt behind them.


If they are in even a minor crash, they will effectively be wearing only a lap-only belt, which can cause serious injuries. Children in booster seats too young can also be a distraction to drivers, putting everyone in the vehicle at risk.


A House committee investigated the mandatory adoption of car seats in the Philippines and Malaysia and found the requirement proved complicated and difficult at first because of the high cost of child car seats.


During the early phase of enforcement after Sept 5, Mr. Nikorn stated that motorists will need time to adjust, so police should be more lenient in terms of compliance and issue warnings before taking more aggressive measures.


In addition, a campaign should be launched to educate people about child car seats and the steps they need to take to protect their children.


Furthermore, Nikorn argued that the government should consider lowering the import tax for child car seats as well as promoting local production of them.

Child Car Seats Become Compulsory In Thailand, September 5th

So, are they going to install child seats in the beds of pickups?

It's just a law, no one's going to actually follow it

^^ Nope, you just need to a wear crash helmet, unless that is you are sitting on a motorcy strapped in the bed of pick up and then you and three other family members can happily sit stride the motorcy helmetless.

What is the point in introducing laws that won't be enforced and are probably unenforceable anyway?

I drive through Korat every day and it's commonplace to see babies/toddlers sitting, unrestrained on the front passenger's lap, or even the driver's lap, at speeds of 60 to 100kph. They don't even have the sense to put the kids on the back seat.

Whole families on motorbikes are common, with only the adults (maybe) wearing helmets. The kids don't seem to be required to wear them.

And now people will start using child seats?

i had a woman today as i was making my way back across BKK on an NMax motorcy, no helmet with a tiny kid on the front and 2 older kids all helmetless narrowly avoid the back of a lorry inside me only due to the fact i pulled on the ABS to create space for her to cut me up, her knee still hit my left front wing and the bitch gave me a filthy look.

They do seem to like using kids as airbags, don't they?

Child Car Seats Selling for 1,000-60,000 Baht Amid New Law


BANGKOK (NNT) - The recent implementation of a law requiring child car seats for children under the age of 6 has started sparking public interest for the safety items, with prices ranging from 1,000 to 60,000 baht.


According to the recent Royal Gazette announcement, child car seats or booster seat cushions are now compulsory for children younger than 6 or those 135 cm or shorter in height. Motorists failing to comply with this requirement will be fined up to 2,000 baht.


Section 123 of the Land Traffic Act stipulates that children under the age of 6 must be restrained in a car seat or a special child booster seat for their own safety in a moving vehicle. This law only exempts children who cannot be fastened to a seat for health or physical reasons.


According to vendors, the price of a car seat mainly depends on the materials used, as well as the seat’s functions, durability, after-sales service and safety.


Both local and imported car seats are currently available in Thailand. Vendors noted that since the promulgation of the law, a number of people have started to inquire about the products, but there has yet to be a substantial surge in demand.


Notably, similar regulations are being enforced in many countries to better ensure the safety of children on the road. As of February 2022, approximately 7,500 minor injuries in Thailand were caused by local road accidents, followed by around 1,900 accidents with serious injuries. In that same period, Thailand recorded about 16,100 road accidents in total.

Child Car Seats Selling for 1,000-60,000 Baht Amid New Law

Originally Posted by qwerty

So, are they going to install child seats in the beds of pickups?

I think many of us can remember some years ago when about 12 people died after a pickup hit a tree or some such totally avoidable stationary object, and they decide to ban all travel in the back of them. Then someone pointed out that Songkran was only weeks away and this was how many people travelled during that period, so they said the law would come into effect straight after Songkran. It will surprise nobody that this was the last we ever heard of it

It is amazing how many issues which could be resolved for the better in Thailand end up in the "all too difficult" round file.

Originally Posted by armstrong

It's just a law, no one's going to actually follow it

This.

I think driving/riding on the correct side of the road needs to be mastered first.

Originally Posted by Troy

This.

I think driving/riding on the correct side of the road needs to be mastered first.

Troy, they do, its only Europeans snd Mercans that drive on the right.

Originally Posted by Troy

This.

I think driving/riding on the correct side of the road needs to be mastered first.

That's a bit radical! Could we start with something easier?

Originally Posted by misskit

This is according to Section 123 of the law.

I am almost tempted to find out what the other 122 sections say.

have to say the sheer number of motorcycle couriers in BKK is staggering now, 3-4 years ago you used to see a few, particularly food delivery but now they delivery everything from online orders to whatever somchai & somchaina decide they need picking up from the local shop - they swarm around you as you drive in heavy traffic and you have to have 360 eyes on before you manoeuvre to avoid taking one out as they race up the inside of you.

Safety at a price: Why compulsory car seat use is controversial in Thailand


For decades now, Thai parents have been letting their children ride in cars without a car seat, and sometimes even without a belt. The practice – which also applies to school buses – is so prevalent that people fail to realize the danger involved.


However, from September 5, it will be banned by law. The amended version of the Land Traffic Act, which was published in the Royal Gazette earlier this month, states that children up to the age of six or no taller than 135 centimeters must sit in a car seat while in a moving automobile. Breaking the new rule carries a fine of up to 2,000 baht.


However, while the amended law’s aim is to protect children, people are already expressing concern over how it will be enforced.


Benefits of a car seat


Portable car seats for babies or young children are designed to be secured to a passenger seat in a car.


Asst Prof Dr Worawut Choeyprasert, a pediatrician and owner of the @SpoiledPediatrician Facebook page, is an enthusiastic supporter of the new law, seeing it as a “life-saving tool”.


“When there is a car crash, children are usually the first to be hurled out of a vehicle. They are also most likely to sustain serious injuries,” he said.


Just as adults are protected with a safety belt, young passengers too deserve protection with a car seat, he adds.


A total of 221 babies and young children were killed in car accidents between 2017 and 2021, according to official statistics. Few of these victims had the benefit of a car seat to protect them. Meanwhile, using a car seat reduces the risk of injury in a crash by 71-82 percent for children, the US Centers for Disease Control says.


Uproar over new rule


However, many parents are complaining loudly about the new rule, with some pointing out that they have gotten along just fine without children’s car seats. Many also say car seats are too expensive and the need to buy one will only add to their financial woes.


Consumers also noticed that car-seat prices soared as soon as the amended Land Traffic Act made the news.


On May 11, the @happymommyarpan Facebook page announced that the price of a car seat for older children had shot up from just over 6,000 baht to nearly 9,000 baht in two days.


“The government should provide support to parents too and introduce anti-overpricing measures,” the page suggested.


The mother-of-two who runs this Facebook page on “happy parenting” revealed that the first car seat she bought cost over 39,000 baht and the second about 17,000 baht.

Prices matter


The Internal Trade Department is closely monitoring the price of car seats to stop sellers from overcharging, according to its deputy director-general, Chakra Yodmani.


“Retailers who raise prices without any sound reason are liable to face up to seven years in jail and/or a maximum fine of 140,000 baht,” he said.


Products on the watchlist are monitored every two weeks and consumers can call the 1569 hotline to report price gouging.


“We have already spoken to retailers like Central and several e-commerce platforms to ensure there is no hiking of prices,” Chakra said. “There will also be promotional campaigns for car seats.”


This does not mean that retailers cannot raise prices at all, but they must inform the Internal Trade Department before doing so.


The amended law will reportedly permit the use of special cushions costing 600-700 baht in place of child car seats.

Alternatives for parents?


The Mirror Foundation is helping parents by offering second-hand car seats for 300-500 baht at its charity shop @suankruangoon.


However, high demand means all cheap car seats have been snapped up, and the foundation is now calling for people to donate more of the second-hand items.


Used car seats in good condition are offered at a low price to help parents with limited means. All proceeds from the sales go towards the foundation’s many causes.

Safety at a price: Why compulsory car seat use is controversial in Thailand | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Children’s car seats are a problem for people in the US also. It isn’t as though you buy one car seat for one child and that’s it. You have to get a new car seat as the baby grows and a seat that passes safety inspection is expensive.

It is important the Thais have charities who are capable of providing free or low cost car seats all over the country if they really intend to enforce this law.

Driving around Oz I see many cars with “baby on board’ in the rear window.

What is the point of this? What is the message? Don’t crash into the rear of my car as there is a baby inside.

Does anybody alter their driving habits when reading that sign?

Originally Posted by misskit

promoting local production of them.

This seems obvious, start making them in Thailand. How hard can it be? Not a lot of complex engineering, just copy something. I didn't see any mention of a standard, no Kitemark or anything?