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I reckon about 80% of the kids at my youngests school arrive on bike with no helmets. Sad thing is, every one of them was given a free helmet last year (the school is government so they get outside private sponsorship regularly from big companies, milk, toys on special days etc. Even a bicycle company just gave them about 30 bikes for childrens day) by one of the big banks (if i remember correctly)Quote:
Originally Posted by Necron99
None of them ever wear them.
Defies belief really.
Monkey see, monkey do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier
no time to read all JJ but,,
it's the same everywhere you go
people only wake up after the deed is done
' i'll be more careful next time' is always the mantra.
paying Attention and riding with your lights on keeps you safe,, usually.
but Thailands's roads are crazy especially with alcohol and day-dreaming.
messes up the hair an no have face.Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pragmatic
Yup.Quote:
Originally Posted by billy the kid
But someone earlier said that wearing protection was asking for an accident to happen.
I think this is a big factor too. Very superstitious people.
Why wear a helmet for a short ride to school?
I don't wear one either when I just travel locally (bank or market).
Yup, an accident can't happen if you're just traveling locally.Quote:
Originally Posted by neemo
Maybe somehow Buddha can teach them?...
I agree. But, if you put a heavy fine on them, they won't/can't pay it and they know, no one will come to arrest them. Or, they'll go to the chief, wai him and he'll knock the price down. These fuckers never learn.Quote:
Originally Posted by piwanoiI suppose quite a few may be of the opinion that your attitude stinks ,but from the evidence I have gleaned from many farangs who live locally (including me) we are all of the same opinion, whatever happens by way of an accident its never their fault ,so its impossible for them to learn by their stupid mistakes cos according to them they never make any , the simple fact is why should You ,I or anyone else feel sorrow for these people when they are totally incapable of learning simply because of their "know all" attitude" ,the only way they will ever learn is to keep banging them with heavy fines for their indiscretions .Quote:
Originally Posted by Pragmatic
Enough said,but today I was on the road and as per the norm I said " I Pad ,get the I Pad out " ahead,on the road where more dead bodies to take pictures of" We did not stop or take pictures.
But It becomes so normal that I did think about it,one poster mentioned,that life was so awful they don,t care if they die,just like Africans.
Sorry that is not true,they just have less grey matter.
Brain cells.
It is not quite like that...But it is generally much harder for a rich person to die, leaving all that materialistic shite behind and exit with nothing at all...Quote:
Originally Posted by wasabi
A poor person has nothing...In that sense, it is not so hard to die...Imagine rich and poor leaving the same way, with nothing at all...
I might miss a call on my I phone or I can't check my messages because I'm so important that I have to check my messages every 5 minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by billy the kid
^Are you posting from your motorcycle?...
Fatal road accidents in Thailand are 3x that of the USA. Then The USA rate is 3x that of the UK. Often wonder if the reason why the road laws are not informed is economic. The more people buy bikes and cars the more the elite make. To impose restrictions limits the market at work.
A strict driving test, would need to go hand in hand with strict law enforcement. In a country where the Police is unable or unwilling to uphold the basic rule of law, unless it is politically correct, road deaths would seem a low priority.
Unfortunately it is what it is, part of the social framework of a developing country. Us foreigners have to accept of go to Monaco to live their road accident death rate was 0 last year.
^keeps the hospitals and insurance companies rolling in it too!
Of course.Quote:
Originally Posted by BaitongBoy
I always shake my head when I see Thai drivers with no helmets and many people on a bike...especially small kids. I mean if they are going to be that carefree, then at least protect their children.
The no helmets and breaking traffic laws never ceases to amaze me. I find it worse in Vietnam even because there is bicycles, cars, motorcycles to contend with.
When I hear people here in Canada complain about people's driving, it always makes me laugh to think what they would ever do if they saw what went on in SEAsia.
Are you trolling or just plain stupid?Quote:
Originally Posted by neemo
1950's/1960's Europe and USA was in a real pickle with road accidents. Especially when there was a mix of slow/fast vehicles and a large number of vulnerable ones (eg motorbikes). It's a pity that the lessons learnt and the solutions applied were not taken up by Thailand when it had the chance. Money squandered on other things rather than essentials.
A few years back I saw a policeman trying to wave down a couple of schoolgirls who were not wearing helmets. They just swerved past him, accelerated, whilst giggling. No respect for Police but then again they hardly deserve any...
When I was a young lad cruising the highways and byways of Northern California on my BSA never wore a helmet. Just wasn't cool. Only pussies wore helmets. No worries, to wear or not to wear was up to me. Then one day a law was passed requiring a helemt. Screw that. I'm a rebel. Off I go with no helmet. Well I did until the cops started enforcing the law and fining my ass. Decided to modify my behavior and wear a helmet. Without enforcement I would not have changed my behavior.
Around the same time, seat belt law was passed. Same story. No one buckled up until the cops started enforcing the law.
In Thailand, it's not about stupidity or culture. It's about behavior modification because the cops do not enforce the law.
The old adage "hit the nail on the head" springs readily to mind ,not really much else to add is there?:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
I'm very into wearing proper gear (not just a helmet) and have a lot of it for various weather conditions, but I've also got the money to buy it. A helmet that will actually help in a crash will cost a few thousand baht at a bare minimum (a high-end, well-ventilated, comfortable helmet can easily run 15K+)- few locals are willing or able to spend that much on something they don't believe they'll ever need, and if they do buy one, they have to make sure it doesn't get stolen so they can't leave it on their bike and will be burdened with looking after it.
A 250 baht helmet from Tesco doesn't do much- it's slightly better than nothing, but that's about it. There would have to be not only an enforced helmet law with substantial penalties, but also a safety standard (DOT, Snell, ECE, whatever) that would greatly increase the cost of a helmet to riders- many of whom would have trouble affording it- to make a real difference in road fatalities.
It's not just a legal or religious issue- it's a financial issue as well.
Yep. Selective enforcement for cash rewards is all they ever do. Thailand has also copied many laws from Western countries to make themselves appear "sophisticated".Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
I do see a few public information ads on Thai tv lately though. Regarding road safety, birth control, etc. Hopefully, until the RTP get the long overdue overhaul this country really needs, this trend may continue.
Yes and the local police are responding with enforcement. The missus came home from Roiet after paying a 300 baht ticket for having a front seat passenger with no seat belt. She was mad as hell. Never heard of such a law and never heard of anyone getting fined for it. She did tell all her neighbor friends to make sure passengers wore seat belts.Quote:
Originally Posted by kmart
Can only hope it will not be one of those "this months law to enforce" deals.
Yeah that's what I want in a free society "behavior modification".Quote:
Originally Posted by piwanoi
I am all for helmets and seat belts. What I don't like is the only reason that a law is passed and enforced is because the police know that nobody will do it and it is a big money maker. Nobody cares if you die in a crash because you didn't wear a helmet or seat belt.
If people want to put themselves and their children in danger I say let them. It's none of my business or anybody else including law enforcement.
Yeah, and i recon leave all the blood and guts on the road to because it's not my business!