The Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP) and Save the Children will hand over a petition with 15.000 signatures to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration next Wednesday. This is in an effort to force schools under the supervision of the BMA to participate in the campaign to promote the wearing of helmets by schoolchildren on motorcycles.
Signatures in support of the “7 percent” campaign were collected through two websites, www.7-percent.org and www.change.org.
Save the Children coordinator Arunrat Wattanapalin said that if the city is willing to support this campaign, his organization is ready to immediately start pilot projects in schools in Bangkok.
Every school day, 1,3 million Thai children ride motorcycles to school as passengers, and the campaign aims to increase helmet use by children. Now only between 7 and 60 percent of children on a motorbike wear a helmet.
There is also an emphasis on trying to convince the authorities that helmets should be an integral part of school uniforms.
Thailand has the second most dangerous roads in the world. Every year more than 2.600 children are killed in traffic and 72.000 are injured.
Postscript Gringo: the campaign deserves all the support and should not be limited to Bangkok alone. Here in Pattaya, I believe that 7% for school children is not even achieved. We can be brief about the countryside in Thailand, apparently the crash helmet has yet to be invented there.
Source: The Nation
Here in the Isaan it is less than 1%, I estimate, the age at which children ride the motorbike is sadly low. Sometimes they can barely see over the steering wheel. Especially guys! I live near Bueng Khon Long.
And the police in a village in Lopburi is COMPLETELY a joke, they play over at the school on a busy through "highway" and see almost all youth come to school without a helmet on a scooter, not the driving age, no certificate / driver's license , AND DO NOTHING!
Stupid coincidence of course, but it was precisely in Lopburi that I had a ticket, I had a helmet on but the strap was broken. Own fault of course.
Let me think that a helmet was always mandatory for adults and for children
Amazing Thailand
Wearing a helmet is required by law. But as long as the gentlemen of the Thai Hermandad do not always wear a helmet themselves, and often look the other way if someone does not wear a helmet, then the law is an empty rule.
What you also often see is that the driver of the motorcycle/moped wears a helmet, but the child to be transported does not! Those people should be deprived of parental authority. And that is especially true if mom and dad wear a helmet, but the child doesn't.
But yes, as long as there is not a strict enforcement policy (??? what is that???) with correspondingly high fines, nothing will change.
It is a bit crooked, but only the driver is required to wear a helmet.
I think that they should abolish small children under a certain age on the bike dangerous
It is best to start with the parents and grandpa and grandma and oh yeah uncle cop sometimes wears a cap instead of a helmet.
I always wear a helmet when I ride the motorcycle and that has nothing to do with the fact that I drive a heavier motorcycle. It is sad to see how many Thais just tear away without a helmet, the faster the better. This problem can only be tackled at the source. On the other hand, you can see the increasing use of racing bikes here. Then they are dressed like world champions and with a purebred bicycle helmet on !!!!
lung addie
Yes good comment Mr. Addie .
I also see them here almost every day on their racing bikes, just coming from the Tour de France with a bicycle helmet and all the trimmings.
When I see them I actually burst into laughter.
Soon again on the moped without a helmet, because cycling on a real racing bike gives some people a kind of image in Thailand.
Jan Beute.
Unfortunately, another large hot air balloon is released that certainly deflates very quickly.
As someone previously responded to this posting, also where I live.
The local gendarmerie is responsible for directing traffic when the high school ends.
And you will not believe what you see , hardly anyone wears a helmet .
See kids go home on a new Honda CBR 250cc.
They don't have a driver's license, but they certainly have a Thai daddy with money and connections.
No, another nice action that doesn't work at all.
If they actually want to do something about this, Mr. Prayuth should really show his teeth .
And have to give the gendarmerie a huge beating for their mismanagement .
They are only involved when it comes to collecting silent money in card games.
I see and hear this , and know what I am talking about .
Believe me nothing changes in Thailand , and I have been living here for the eleventh year now .
And have seen many leaders and governments come and go faster .
All that remains is increasing corruption , more debt poverty and a growing elite group .
Jan Beute.
It will be time for traffic lessons to be taught in schools. Maybe that will happen, but I'm afraid it won't. Have already told the police about traffic lessons at school. It was a good idea but they do nothing, a pity but unfortunately.
The last time I sat on a moped in the Netherlands was before the helmet became mandatory. After that I only get on a moped when I'm in Thailand and the police are off the street.
For me personally, it is a wonderful and liberating feeling to get on a moped without a helmet.
No, I've never been that into rules. Fortunately, I can live well, without someone else thinking and deciding for me. Just a matter of using your brain, I say.
It becomes a completely different story if you are not able to do that.
1 good rule is wearing a helmet, otherwise you can forget those good brains because also a rule that goes with it is not wearing a helmet and you will have an accident with the motorbike YOU ARE NOT INSURED SO THEY WON'T TURN OUT either but yes you will hate rules!!!!
Joe,
My insurance with BUPA also says that only 50% of the aforementioned amounts will be paid out in the event of an accident with a motorbike.
Why would that be? To underline your freedom? Or let you enjoy the wind through your hair (or through your split brain).
Find the right answer for yourself…………