Why the lack of crash helmets on Samui roads?

Posted by Full mooner on February 17th, 2010 filed in Safety, Tourist tips, expat life

Now this is a broad subject and it could mean anything from drinking responsibly through to safety of your personal items, but these two can sometimes be linked up. For residents and long term visitors to Koh Samui the issue of wearing a crash helmet while on a motorbike is a hot topic that does stir a reaction.

It is the law in Thailand for any persons riding on a motorbike, driver or passenger, to wear a crash helmet for their own safety. It does make perfect commonsense so why do we see many people, Thai, ex-pat and holidaymakers flouting this law? Because they can! The police will not randomly stop motorists, like they do in the west, and issue them with a fine and say you cannot move that bike until you have a helmet. Instead the police here give random spot checks and issue all those with no helmets a fine, but then let them get back on their bike and ride away.

In my eyes this is crazy for two reasons; why would you want to endanger your life by not wearing a crash helmet? And, why do the police not enforce this simple law? Samui is notorious for motorbike accidents and many people have died, though the accident was not their fault, through not wearing a helmet. Isn’t it about time that there was a campaign to make people wear their helmets? If not for their own sake, then for that of their loved ones that get left behind!