Pattaya police get tough on motorcyclists

30 May 2011

A recent crackdown by Pattaya police officers has resulted in motorcycle riders and pillion passengers being fined for not wearing safety helmets. Although the compulsory wearing of crash helmets on motorcycles has been the law for a number of years many people, both Thai and foreigners, still do not wear them.

On 4 January, the government passed a resolution that called on police to promote the use of protective headwear for motorcyclists. Police forces throughout Thailand were instructed to begin campaigns that would encourage all riders and passengers to don helmets.

Pattaya authorities have put up an extra 50 billboards in the town that urge people to wear safety helmets and preserve life. Police have also visited schools and colleges in an effort to encourage pupils to wear helmets.

Officers claim that 90 per cent of the student population of Pattaya now wear crash helmets when riding motorbikes. Police have also targeted motorbike taxi riders and pressed them to carry helmets for passengers.

Police have visited motorbike rental shops in the resort and told proprietors when they hire a bike out that a crash helmet should also be included. This will impact on Pattaya’s numerous foreign visitors as they now have no excuse for not wearing protective headgear.

At a high profile temporary checkpoint earlier this month on Beach Road, police pulled over motorcycle riders and pillion passengers without helmets. Each offender was hit with a 400-Baht fine, double the usual 200-Baht penalty.

Tags: Pattaya police motorcyclists