Crash helmet in Thailand

More and more often you can see that Thais wearing a crash helmet while riding a motorcycle. This was a rare exception years ago.

The reason for this change, however, is not in the increased safety awareness of the Thai, but in the fact that helmet is required (to my knowledge only for the driver of the motorcycle not for the passenger) and the main reason that the offense is punished.

If in rural areas the police place value on the compliance with the helmet requirement only on the main roads, this will be the case in Bangkok or tourist resorts such as Phuket or Pattaya. Pattaya surveys all over the country and punishes violations. At the end of the month the police check more often. Evil tongues claim that this is because the policing police are out of pocket and in need of cash. But I think that's a bad rumor.

Helmets are easily available in Thailand (usually you get a free one when buying a motorcycle) and its inexpensive. Common helmets are used primarily for cost and climate. Unfortunately and that is also a sign of how serious the helmet control is taken - helmets are available almost exclusively in size L. You want to make sure that the helmets just fit on every head.

How seriously the helmet duty is taken and how convinced the Thais are of the meaningfulness of the helmet wear, the following application examples may show:

The helmet, while on the head, is not closed with the belt. Question: Does the helmet actually stick to the head in case of an accident? Answer: No!

It is not uncommon to see motorcyclists riding in rural areas around the countryside (naturally unlocked). This is related to the fact that the user has obviously not shown anyone how to wear the helmet

Some motorcyclists have full-face helmets. They are often worn like a cap on the head. If you then see a police check, you briefly hit the top of the helmet, which then slips over the face or head down and sits (of course, unlocked).

Of course, the casual scope of the issue often leads to head injuries and death in accidents. But then, unfortunately, any insight is too late.

Sources: Thai Visa Forum, Worlds Nomads, The Thaiger