Before tourists on Koh Samui are allowed to rent a motorbike, they must first take motorcycling lessons and follow a two-hour theory lesson about Thai traffic rules.
This measure is necessary according to the authorities on Koh Samui, in order to reduce the number of accidents involving tourists. More than 3.000 accidents occur on the island each year, 50 of which are fatal. Tourists account for 30 percent of the number of moped accidents.
One of the reasons for the high number of accidents is that it is quite easy to rent a moped. They show a passport, give a guarantee for the motorbike and pay 200 Baht per day for the rental.
Watchara Promthong, a motorbike rental company, wants to see in advance whether a potential renter can drive a moped before renting out a moped. Another landlord said that there were a lot of mopeds for rent and that there were no government regulations in this area.
Worakitti Chaichana, director of the Land Transport Office on Koh Samui, would like the landlords to be more careful with customers and also provide them with helmets. The TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) is also compiling a brochure called “Samui Safety Navigator” containing information on how to drive a moped safely on Koh Samui. A commendable initiative that should be replicated nationally.
It is best not to rent to tourists who do not have a motorcycle license. In addition, strict enforcement by the police, there are enough rules, but everyone flouts them.
By the way, it's legally required to have a motorcycle driver's license for those bastards. So how can they rent those things to someone without a driver's license? I know, TIT.
I assume that these rules do not apply to people with a motorcycle license, which is stated separately on the international driving license.
If you do not take an exam after the intended lessons (and therefore obtain a Thai driving licence), you are still not insured, which can entail enormous financial consequences in the form of serious injuries, possible repatriation, etc. The travel insurance does not pay out. !
I still have to see whether this is also put into practice. In the Thai tourist resorts (and therefore also Koh Samui) the motor scooter is an important link in the tourist economy, and the resistance will be great among the population.
Maybe also have all Thai take mandatory lessons.
But setting rules that you can't/don't want to check is of no use.
Let the police enforce the current rules first.
Perhaps there are many accidents with tourists because they do not count on drunken Thais who drive against traffic on their moped without lights, Thais who cross the road without looking, Thai drivers who overtake you and then turn left just in front of you without indicating direction. and Thais in cars and on scooters who, without exception, drive partly or completely on the wrong side of the road in a bend. Could just be.
Do you get a certificate after doing that course so that you can prove that you have done that course? Because otherwise many will take a U turn to get around it. We are quite creative with coming up with tricks. Just borrow the scooter from a Thai girlfriend / boyfriend and hoppa you're driving again 2 hours earlier without visiting the school benches. Or will that friend get into trouble again with a Thai insurer? And yes, I don't have a motorcycle license, so I'm not allowed to appear on public roads anyway from my Dutch insurer and in terms of driver's license A. However, I can go on the road with a 3-wheeler with a lot of horsepower with my driver's license B.
I have to admit something now.
Once – about 7 or 8 years ago – I went to Koh Samui for a few days. With my girlfriend at the time. She wanted us to rent a motorcycle and for me to drive it. I do have a driver's license to drive a car. But a motorcycle, I had no experience with that at all.
After a short explanation, I did ride a motorcycle there. She was behind me. I've always been careful. We haven't had any problems. But I wasn't quite comfortable either.
If possible, I think I will take driving lessons there first to master the most important actions.
In Thailand I would love to ride a motorcycle. But I only stay there about 1 month a year. So I'm afraid I'll have to start from 0 again and again...
I don't think the idea of a compulsory driving lesson is a bad one. For experienced motorcyclists, a good test seems more than enough in my opinion. For inexperienced candidates – like me – this seems like a must do.
I have obtained a Thai motorcycle license with a tourist visa. Valid for 1 years in the first instance and 2 years after renewal.
Because I already have a 'real' (read: Dutch) motorcycle license -and also purchased the international driver's license- I only had to do a few simple tests.
When registering I was given a paper to fill out at the immigration office, I believe as confirmation of my address.
So you might consider taking the full exam.
How long has it been since you got a Thai driver's license with a "tourist visa", even on the basis of an international driver's license? And may we also know what this cost?
Proof of residence from the immigration is currently insufficient as a tourist often moves from location. To my knowledge, to obtain a Thai driver's license, you must present a document of registration on the Ampheu. It must even be an original, not a copy. Can be called normal somewhere because in case of a violation they must know where to deliver the fine. When obtaining this registration, the possible home owner (usually Thai because as a foreigner ....) must even be present so that they can contact him in case of problems.
Of course, we know that, it's different everywhere TIT.
That's about 2 weeks ago.
It was unexpectedly easy; I went to DLT (in Songkhla) for information and left with a letter for immigration.
The Thai owner had to go to immigration to sign that I do indeed live there.
In total I spent less than 1000 baht on costs, not a single baht of which was 'tea money'…
About 400 for the 2 driving licenses (motorcycle and car), 5 baht for the letter, 200 for the document to be legalized at immigration and around 100 for a whole pile of copies (international driver's license, passport, visa page, departure card and copies of the ID of the Thai owner and his booklet.)
Yes yes, I belong to one of the morons who crashed with his rented motorcycle (125cc). I used to drive a lot of (mostly tuned up) mopeds so I have some experience. I knew about the risks and started it anyway, but a hole in the road, combined with the small wheels of a scooter and a somewhat rigid frame, has become too much for me. Of course, the landlord has given me ample opportunity to buy off my feelings of guilt. In my opinion, a revenue model.
After that on koh samui still drove a lot without damage. I can say from my own experience that Thai drivers take other road users into account. In amsterdam I am forced to pay more attention.
It is simply impossible to reach everything with taxis. If you want to explore, a scooter is simply a very good means of transport. There is of course nothing to do against drunk drivers other than enforcement. Everyone knows how to do it in a course, but driving on the left is also something else in a split second. You only learn that by doing it.
Just got back from 6 weeks in Thailand; a course in Thai traffic rules? Must be a joke or an invitation to the shortest course in the world 🙂
The police mainly fine foreigners and not the Thai without a helmet. Furthermore, the Japanese tourists were screwed again on Koh Chang, they always get a fine, even with a helmet, because they never complain and pay properly.
Police remain corrupt, but we already knew that
Stood there and watched it, 2 young Russian girls, who I don't think had even been on a bike before, lurched away on a recently rented motorbike. In that respect, I can imagine that the motorbike rental company on Koh Samui, Watchara Promthong, wants to know in advance whether a possible tenant can indeed drive a motorbike. However, he would also know if he and all those other lessors asked for an (international) motorcycle license. After all, you must also show it when renting a car. But of course it is as good as always a matter of money; billions of Baths are involved in the rental of motorbikes and I think that few of the renters have a valid driver's license. As long as the government continues to tolerate the current state of affairs in the rental sector, little will change and many victims will still fall. Do agree with Kees's reaction that the 'driving style' of a large number of Thai road users does not exactly deserve a beauty prize.
I have lived on Samui for over eight years now and this would indeed be a good idea, but I don't think it will work out in practice. There are regular checks here to ensure that you are wearing a helmet, which is always fun to take a look. Anyone who does not wear a helmet will get a fine, foreigners but also all Thais. Not only the driver but also the passenger. About as many Thais as foreigners ride without a helmet, with the Thais not wearing a helmet. The foreigners usually have a helmet with them but don't put it on, why not. Now I rarely see a Thai dressed in bandages here, but foreigners almost every day. Just drive slowly and look out. By the way, the times I almost had a collision were always with a foreigner, coming out of a side street and trying to get onto the main road and then looking the wrong way. They only drive on the left here and not on the right. Just about the police on Samui, you almost never see them. You regularly read about other destinations that foreigners get a fine for all kinds of things. Apart from checking whether you are wearing a helmet (always in the same places), you have to do your best to get a fine.
A two-hour theory lesson about Thai traffic rules.
Translated as: Another way to kill tourism. Yes, I also rented a moped (well, 125cc scooter) in Thailand.
I didn't have a motorcycle license at the time.
But in my opinion it depends on your own mentality, whether chunks will come of it. For me the thing was just a way to explore the Pattaya area instead of doing tough things in Thai traffic.
And don't drive after dark! Don't want to make a bang.
I read several times in the article,"Moped"
They are motorcycles, motorbikes and not mopeds, mopeds of 49,9cc cannot be found in Thailand.
Johan
Dear Johan,
I deliberately chose the term “moped” because it is the most common tourist term and not a technical term beyond 49,9cc.
fr.g.,
Lodewijk
Improve the world and start with your own motorbike riders.
If, in addition to the 30 percent tourists who cause accidents, there are 70 percent from their own country, it seems to me very necessary to have the Thai take compulsory driving lessons or a refresher course.
But also fine them with a drink on or without a helmet.
My husband rode off without a helmet a few years ago, because he stowed it under the saddle pad as a precaution and forgot to put it on,
I pointed this out to him, and at the same time an officer appeared in our sight and urged us to the side.
My husband had to pay two hundred and fifty baht. Unfortunately he had just paid for our drinks before that and didn't have enough cash with him. I said I would pay for it.
No no. He was the guilty one so he deserved “punishment”. Then, as a punishment, he had to sit with his helmet on, in a police box on the corner, waiting for fifteen minutes, after which he got his papers back and was allowed to continue. So underpants lol. Luckily I didn't get a ticket for peeing in the street.
It's a pity that we didn't have an I-Phone back then with which I could take a picture to show it directly to our children and grandchildren on social media. But the reactions afterwards were hilarious.
Very likely the tourists will have to pay extra for those so-called lessons.
The Thai have found another gap in the market. Again and again new rules and laws to take money from foreigners / tourists. I read that 30% of the accidents on Koh Samui are caused by foreigners. The other 70%, the vast majority, are Thai. Maybe it's better to tackle the 70% first, but yes, that won't bring in anything for sure.
Why does everything always have to be associated with taking money out of tourists' pockets? Why does it always have to be associated with tourist bullying?
Do you really think that Thailand is only out to attract fewer tourists? I therefore wonder why so many want to come to Thailand as a tourist and come back again and again?
Finally... finally. If 30% of the accidents happen by tourists, it means that the remaining 70% of the accidents happen by Thais. Finally they admit it.
Since Koh Samui is easily accessible for me, I come there about 4 times a year and this for about 10 or more years. Traffic on Koh Samui has changed a lot during this period. More and more cars on the road, both Thai and foreign drivers. And we shouldn't keep pointing the finger at the Thais. If you had to feed the drunken foreigners driving around, it would cost you a lot of money.
It would be best to start by technically limiting the achievable speed of those rental scooters (which, as far as I'm concerned, is allowed for ALL scooters). Many foreigners who rent such a motorcycle have no experience with motorcycling at all. They then get a 125CC thing under their ass and feel like “king of the road”. And just blaze, at 80-100 km/h from one place to another until an unexpected incident occurs... and there can be many in Thailand. Then they do not know the behavior of the engine, they have no idea of possible corrections... no, full braking, usually the wrong brake and... with all the consequences that entails.
I can only advise tourists to have at least a suitable valid international driver's license. Permanent residents usually have a Thai driver's license, unless they are not too clever.
The original news text says 'foreign tourists may be required', in other words: it is far from certain. The rest of the news text also clearly states that this is one of the measures being considered.
So nothing is certain, and the headline here on the blog is very premature.
2 hours to learn the Thai "traffic rules" 2 years is not enough for most farang to get used to Thai traffic. In other words, complete nonsense and only useful to offer it if tourists themselves wish or ask for it.