Stricter enforcement of crash helmet requirement for motorcyclists

From today, traffic police will more strictly enforce the law requiring both motorcyclists and pillion passengers to wear crash helmets. Bikers failing to wear one will face a maximum fine of 2,000 baht, while their pillion passengers will face a fine of up to 4,000 baht.

Anukul Pruksanusak, deputy government spokesman, said today that people on motorcycles have been warned to be mindful of road safety and to wear crash helmets, which are proved to reduce head injury risks in an accident involving the use of a motorcycle.

Accident statistics, covering long holiday periods in Thailand, such as the Songkran festival and New Year, clearly show that most road accidents involve motorcycles and most of these riots casualties were not wearing crash helmets.