I couldn't agree MORE about the helmet while riding on a motorcycle: on Valentine's Day 1999, I was going from a student's house to my apartment off of Thapae Rd on my Yamaha Mate, foolishly NOT wearing a helmet, got hit by a car, crashed, split my head open and spent the next three weeks in a coma. I DID wake up and I'm perfectly fine nowadays but I absolutely will NOT ride as a passenger on a motorcycle in Thailand minus a helmet and a LEGITIMATE helmet at that! Been There/Survived That! My accident IS one of the worst any of my fellow buddies in Chiang Mai have ever seen but all of us have crashed before that event and after it--it's simply the Scary World of Riding A Motorcycle In Thailand. Be careful at ALL times! 🙂
@@DiscoveringThailand I haven't been in Thailand for a couple years but when I DO get back to my Second Home of Chiang Mai in January, I probably WILL at least ride as a passenger on the back of a bike, especially when I'm taking a motorcycle taxi from Mor Chit Bus Station in Bangkok to the hotel I usually stay in on Sukhumvit Rd because it IS the Cheapest/Fastest Way to get from one location to the next. I'd LOVE to operate a Honda Dream but it DOES still rattle my nerves to contemplate actually doing so!
Lived in Thailand 4 years covered 32,000km on my Honda wave scooter Rule number 1 assumes all Thai drivers are either texting or not paying attention Rule 2 No right of way, will pull out on you 😂from side roads will pull in front of you to turn left ensuring you have to hammer on your breaks always assume they will carve you up Rule 3: Never ride after 9 pm. or before 5 am. a high percentage will drink/drive with no regard for their actions Rule 4 drive defensively remember as a foreigner you will always be at fault and compensation demanded , never show anger or being annoyed. Rule 5: Never switch lanes pull over. wait for the traffic to pass, then switch lanes I have never had an accident, but anticipation is the name of the game
In Thailand, traffic signals, signs, and markings are suggestions. 😅. Thais do not know how roundabouts are suppose to work. It wasn’t much of a learning curve for me to drive in the left side of the road. Thanks for the safety video! Thailand should higher you for bureau of tourism.
good video but please look out on the highways for them TURNBACKS ! also please look out when stoping at lights or roundabouts etc for the water in the road from cars with aircon that can catch people out on the FRONT BRAKE - take care everyone
Agree with you on all points re wearing the right gear and animals etc .Having been visiting and riding in Thailand for over 20 years though I have to say there are less pot holes on Thai roads than in the UK. We have potholes in the UK that are becoming national monuments they have been there so long . As for the numbers of deaths and injuries there are well over 23 million motorcycles on the roads in Thailand compared to 1,3 million in the UK. Therefore working on the numbers (5500 in Thailand and 315 in the UK) you would actually expect roughly 700 more deaths in the UK per year if the UK had the same amount of bikes on the road. So although I agree with all you said I have to point out that Thailand is safer than any number of countries re riding motorcycles and if the population actually wore helmets etc, I think we can safely say that the death toll in Thailand would be considerably less than the UK per capita of riders. I personally have lost one of my wifes( Thai) nephews in a motorbike accident in Thailand but have lost 2 personal friends in UK on their bikes and both here were wearing all the correct gear.
I drive in pattaya daily. Just drive slow and assume anyone from a side street is going to pull out (which they always do without looking). I personally get to the front of the queue at traffic light and accelerate as quick as I can to get away from the pack.
Yes totally agree I get drivin in car most of the time while I’m in Thailand and it horrifies me as a veteran driver from uk the antics of moto bike drivers , and cars parking on main roads 🤔
Thailand has a class system in regards to traffic, lowest is pedestrians, the next is push bikes. No other road user has any regards for these two, classed as vermin. Next is motor bikes, cars buses and trucks believe these are only there to annoy them. Passenger cars are next, small buses, large buses and trucks don't give a shit about these road hogs. Minnie buses are next trucks and larger bus will just run them off the road if they deem fit. The big two are large buses and trucks, I believe trucks win out as in most cases the bus driver will think of his/her passengers. All Australian insurers will not honour your policy if you are hurt riding a bike without the required safety gear or no licence.
Very informative video. Did you bring your own motorbike Jacket and trousers from Australia or did you buy them in Thailand? Is it cheap to buy motorbike clothing in Thailand?
Yes I bought my bike jeans 👖 from Australia. I don't have a jacket but can buy good quality here at same price I would pay back in Australia. Can buy cheap but not good quality.
I couldn't agree MORE about the helmet while riding on a motorcycle: on Valentine's Day 1999, I was going from a student's house to my apartment off of Thapae Rd on my Yamaha Mate, foolishly NOT wearing a helmet, got hit by a car, crashed, split my head open and spent the next three weeks in a coma. I DID wake up and I'm perfectly fine nowadays but I absolutely will NOT ride as a passenger on a motorcycle in Thailand minus a helmet and a LEGITIMATE helmet at that! Been There/Survived That! My accident IS one of the worst any of my fellow buddies in Chiang Mai have ever seen but all of us have crashed before that event and after it--it's simply the Scary World of Riding A Motorcycle In Thailand. Be careful at ALL times! 🙂
So glad you are okay. Always stay safe and be healthy.
I hope many read your story/comment 🙏 are you still riding?
@@DiscoveringThailand I haven't been in Thailand for a couple years but when I DO get back to my Second Home of Chiang Mai in January, I probably WILL at least ride as a passenger on the back of a bike, especially when I'm taking a motorcycle taxi from Mor Chit Bus Station in Bangkok to the hotel I usually stay in on Sukhumvit Rd because it IS the Cheapest/Fastest Way to get from one location to the next. I'd LOVE to operate a Honda Dream but it DOES still rattle my nerves to contemplate actually doing so!
Death? But I don’t want to die!!!
Excellent. Thanks mate
Lived in Thailand 4 years covered 32,000km on my Honda wave scooter
Rule number 1 assumes all Thai drivers are either texting or not paying attention
Rule 2 No right of way, will pull out on you 😂from side roads will pull in front of you to turn left ensuring you have to hammer on your breaks always assume they will carve you up
Rule 3: Never ride after 9 pm. or before 5 am. a high percentage will drink/drive with no regard for their actions
Rule 4 drive defensively remember as a foreigner you will always be at fault and compensation demanded , never show anger or being annoyed.
Rule 5: Never switch lanes pull over. wait for the traffic to pass, then switch lanes
I have never had an accident, but anticipation is the name of the game
In Thailand, traffic signals, signs, and markings are suggestions. 😅. Thais do not know how roundabouts are suppose to work. It wasn’t much of a learning curve for me to drive in the left side of the road. Thanks for the safety video! Thailand should higher you for bureau of tourism.
good video but please look out on the highways for them TURNBACKS ! also please look out when stoping at lights or roundabouts etc for the water in the road from cars with aircon that can catch people out on the FRONT BRAKE - take care everyone
Agree with you on all points re wearing the right gear and animals etc .Having been visiting and riding in Thailand for over 20 years though I have to say there are less pot holes on Thai roads than in the UK. We have potholes in the UK that are becoming national monuments they have been there so long . As for the numbers of deaths and injuries there are well over 23 million motorcycles on the roads in Thailand compared to 1,3 million in the UK. Therefore working on the numbers (5500 in Thailand and 315 in the UK) you would actually expect roughly 700 more deaths in the UK per year if the UK had the same amount of bikes on the road. So although I agree with all you said I have to point out that Thailand is safer than any number of countries re riding motorcycles and if the population actually wore helmets etc, I think we can safely say that the death toll in Thailand would be considerably less than the UK per capita of riders. I personally have lost one of my wifes( Thai) nephews in a motorbike accident in Thailand but have lost 2 personal friends in UK on their bikes and both here were wearing all the correct gear.
Good point. It also doesn't help when families of 3 or 4 are on the one bike. Cheers ✌️
I drive in pattaya daily. Just drive slow and assume anyone from a side street is going to pull out (which they always do without looking). I personally get to the front of the queue at traffic light and accelerate as quick as I can to get away from the pack.
Yes totally agree I get drivin in car most of the time while I’m in Thailand and it horrifies me as a veteran driver from uk the antics of moto bike drivers , and cars parking on main roads 🤔
I think thailand one of the worst in the world for enforcement of road rules and especially helmets.
Thailand has a class system in regards to traffic, lowest is pedestrians, the next is push bikes. No other road user has any regards for these two, classed as vermin. Next is motor bikes, cars buses and trucks believe these are only there to annoy them. Passenger cars are next, small buses, large buses and trucks don't give a shit about these road hogs. Minnie buses are next trucks and larger bus will just run them off the road if they deem fit. The big two are large buses and trucks, I believe trucks win out as in most cases the bus driver will think of his/her passengers. All Australian insurers will not honour your policy if you are hurt riding a bike without the required safety gear or no licence.
Sounds spot on to me .. and will never change.
Very informative video. Did you bring your own motorbike Jacket and trousers from Australia or did you buy them in Thailand? Is it cheap to buy motorbike clothing in Thailand?
Yes I bought my bike jeans 👖 from Australia. I don't have a jacket but can buy good quality here at same price I would pay back in Australia. Can buy cheap but not good quality.