Not 1 student wore a helmet.

[Arlo]

Yes, time indeed. As already pointed out the law has been there for over 35 years and that hasn't succeeded so how much time is needed for people to do the smart things of their own accord?

I think most adults prefer to make their own decisions about their own lives. Why do people have to worry about what another person is doing? People need to worry about themselves not some other guy.

[HHTel]

But it's not just a decision about your own life. If it was, then that would be the end of it. The fact is it often affects other people who never went along with your decision. Untethered bodies in a car have for a fact caused serious and fatal injuries to another.

[brianks]

Have enjoyed all the Personal Freedom arguments here regarding wearing of Helmets. To those who espouse not wearing helmets, are you willing to pay the expenses the state or local governments must pay when you crash your body without a helmet and don't have insurance to cover all those expenses? Those expenses do show up in higher taxes and of course you would not want to pay higher taxes to protect your "Personal Freedoms". In California when the Helmet Law came in, the MC accidents and fatality wend down 50%. Quite a savings of public expense not to mention lives.

[HHTel]

[Takiap]

While the police could enforce the law if they really wanted to, we need to remember that most of the police don't wear helmets either when they are not on duty. Regardless of what the law says, most Thais, including the police, don't believe a helmet is called for, and until that attitude changes, the law will not be enforced. Changing/steering attitude needs to begin during childhood years, both at home and in the classroom.

Any and all schools here could and should also assist by banning their students from arriving or leaving without helmets. They could also insist on students having to produce a valid license if they are traveling to and from school on a motorcycle.

What I also find rather peculiar is the fact that the military allows their school age cadets to race around without helmets while they have their army uniforms on. After all, the military has traditionally always been a symbol of discipline, but of course TIT. Surely any corporal could command a bunch of untidy cadets to shape up.

And, apart from the authorities not enforcing the helmet law, we also have parents who don't enforce it because they too don't believe it's necessary, and as we all know, most will gladly allow their under age kids to nip around on their new Clicks and etc.


Okay, now that I have don'e the right thing by arguing in favor of law enforcement, I'll put up my hand and say that I am perfectly happy with things being just the way they are right now.

[Arlo]

Have enjoyed all the Personal Freedom arguments here regarding wearing of Helmets. To those who espouse not wearing helmets, are you willing to pay the expenses the state or local governments must pay when you crash your body without a helmet and don't have insurance to cover all those expenses? Those expenses do show up in higher taxes and of course you would not want to pay higher taxes to protect your "Personal Freedoms". In California when the Helmet Law came in, the MC accidents and fatality wend down 50%. Quite a savings of public expense not to mention lives.

Did the taxes go down in California when that law came into effect? I would rather my taxes go to the citizens of the US rather than overseas to Egypt, Israel, Pakistan and many other countries. I would like to see these continuous wars stopped. I would like to see the politicians do a better job representing the people and not the corperations. So if someone chooses to not wear a helmet, I think the money could be found for the clean up if the US quit spending so much on wars.

I dont think we are going to change each others minds. I am for less rules and laws and others are for more. I hope in the end my way wins but I doubt it. The rules just continue to grow and grow. This will make many people happy to have a world where your choices are not yours anymore.

I personally like the way it is in Thailand. Somedays you can get away with breaking the law and somedays you cant. If you get caught you pay a small fine. If it was like the US/England in Thailand I think it would lose a lot of its charm.

Question for you guys. If you could take all the laws and rules from your home country and bring them to Thailand, would you?

[SpitfireMk3]

Did the taxes go down in California when that law came into effect? I would rather my taxes go to the citizens of the US rather than overseas to Egypt, Israel, Pakistan and many other countries. I would like to see these continuous wars stopped. I would like to see the politicians do a better job representing the people and not the corperations. So if someone chooses to not wear a helmet, I think the money could be found for the clean up if the US quit spending so much on wars.

So you are saying that health care/treating traficvictims is free of charge?. Ofcourse not. It costs a lot of money. Getting an ambulance, police to be come etc etc. Taxes are paid by you and me and it is in everyones interest to limit the taxes by behaving in a sensible matter so one does not increase the states expense level. Unfortunately people think that the states services are free and wants more and more. That is why taxes go up and never down.

I have chosen Thailand not because of rules but climate and easy living/friendly people.

[Gregjam]

There are two very clear sides to this discussion. Personal choice and personal responsibility. Accidents are rarely caused by the rider not wearing a helmet. A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is at greater risk of death due to head injury which some may view as a cheaper option than surviving and having to be treated for injuries at someone's expense be it government or personal.
This disregard of the law starts to affect others when it spreads to other aspects of riding/driving. How many of us have had our vehicle damaged and have had to pay for the repair with little likelihood of getting anything back as the rider/driver was unlicenced, uninsured, unroadworthy or had connections that made it impossible to chase up (not too much said lately about the red bull heir).
It is a bit like the cycling debate that keeps cropping up in the UK which throws up lots of inaccurate arguments but is basically about the cyclists lack of accountability for their actions. In this case, should a motorcyclist not wearing a helmet be in an accident get hurt/die who pays. The owner of the bike, the parents, the family, the insurance or whoever. Most likely is the government and ultimately the tax payer.
I too love living here and after many years have come to accept that things are different here whilst not always agreeing with it. Enforcing helmet law is low on my list of what laws I think should be enforced but all the time it is an easy source of income no doubt the stops will continue to take place.

[HHTel]

Question for you guys. If you could take all the laws and rules from your home country and bring them to Thailand, would you?

But in the main, they are already here, just not enforced.

[Gregjam]

One wonders if there is an equivalent to the word "enforcement" in the Thai vocabulary.

[Arlo]

Did the taxes go down in California when that law came into effect? I would rather my taxes go to the citizens of the US rather than overseas to Egypt, Israel, Pakistan and many other countries. I would like to see these continuous wars stopped. I would like to see the politicians do a better job representing the people and not the corperations. So if someone chooses to not wear a helmet, I think the money could be found for the clean up if the US quit spending so much on wars.

So you are saying that health care/treating traficvictims is free of charge?. Ofcourse not. It costs a lot of money. Getting an ambulance, police to be come etc etc. Taxes are paid by you and me and it is in everyones interest to limit the taxes by behaving in a sensible matter so one does not increase the states expense level. Unfortunately people think that the states services are free and wants more and more. That is why taxes go up and never down.

I have chosen Thailand not because of rules but climate and easy living/friendly people.

No i am not saying any of its free of charge. I was saying you should get something in return for paying taxes. I also think if you call an ambulance you will be charged. So either you pay or your insurance pays. My buddy got a bill in the mail after an accident.

[Arlo]

Question for you guys. If you could take all the laws and rules from your home country and bring them to Thailand, would you?

But in the main, they are already here, just not enforced.

I thought about the enforce part but it was to late to edit. So would you want it justlike home with all of the enforcement?

[Gregjam]

For many of us Thailand is Home and it is not a case of wanting it to be like the place we came from at all. Most of us have Thai family and are concerned for their as well as our own safety. Had one of my Thai family been wearing a helmet when he was knocked off his bike by a drunken driver his head injuries would not have been as severe as they were. Making an educated choice is fine but in lieu of the education some enforcement would help.
No, I don't want enforcement to be like it is back in the UK but neither do I want to see friends and family hurt.

[Pleng]

So you are saying that health care/treating traficvictims is free of charge?.

Obviously it varies from country to county - but in the UK, at least, it's the motor insurance companies who pay for medical treatment following an accident. If there is no insurance, the bill is swallowed by the NHS, but that's an altogether different 'responsibility for actions' area.

[StevePIraq]

So you are saying that health care/treating traficvictims is free of charge?.

Obviously it varies from country to county - but in the UK, at least, it's the motor insurance companies who pay for medical treatment following an accident. If there is no insurance, the bill is swallowed by the NHS, but that's an altogether different 'responsibility for actions' area.

One must remember that in the UK at least, if you are breaking the law in any way at all your insurance will not pay.