Confirmed: "Big Bike" riders will need special training from next year

[webfact 78,259]

Confirmed: "Big Bike" riders will need special training from next year

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A senior policeman tasked with looking into changes to Thailand's traffic laws has revealed that motorcycle riders on high powered machines must undergo special training and answer more questions to obtain a licence. 

 

The new regulations apply to riders of 400cc machines and up.

 

Pol Maj-Gen Ekkarak Limsangkat, deputy of Region 6, said that the changes were announced in the government gazette and would come into force on 19th February 2021, 120 days after the announcement last Thursday. 

 

The Thai Rath story suggested that riders would need to provide evidence of having been through the required training before a licence could be issued. They would also have to answer additional questions on a test.

 

Exactly what this would mean has yet to be revealed. 

 

The government gazette announcement is part of changes to update and modernize.laws promulgated in 1979.

 

Thailand had seen a great rise in the use of high powered motorcycles in recent years, notes Thailvisa, with many bike companies producing machines in the kingdom.

 

A previously more niche market has thus become far more widespread. 

 

Furthermore Thai press reports of "big bike" accidents" now seem to have forced the hand of the authorities in taking action to address the issue, though the actual extent of accidents involving those on high power machines is largely anecdotal.

 

Thailand is one of the biggest markets in the world for motorcycles of all descriptions. 

 

About 70% of Thailand's estimated 20,000 plus death toll on the roads is motorcycle riders. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-10-28

 

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[Seismic 1,392]

What about the many big bike riders who have been riding them for years, or even decades?. Again, an ill-thought out idea, with many questions still left unanswered. Another knee-jerk reaction to a problem that does not actually exist, from people with no expertise in the area.

[RotBenz8888 17,841]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

also have to answer additional questions on a test.

Begin with an IQ test, that would filter out quite a few. 

[ThailandRyan 16,442]

So lets take a look at the Yamaha MT-15, it is only a 155CC bike, yet can do 140 Km/H. Enough torque and 6 speeds to accelerate as fast as a larger bike and yet would not be considered a big bike.  You really have to wonder at what level of thinking the country is doing when it comes to calling a 400CC and over a big bike.

 

Even the Kawasaki Ninja 400 would not be considered a big bike as it is only 399 CC and a top speed of 191 km/h.  Yet still not a big bike either according to the new law, just makes one kind of laugh at why the decided 400 cc's and above was a big bike.

[NCC1701A 52,774]

i am sitting in my love nest right now on Sukhumvit right next to Asok BTS.

 

When the light changes bikes like Kawasaki 1000 cc take off as fast as possible.

 

I mean they are really haulin' ***.

 

not a cop in sight. 

 

and that is why this BS will never change.

 

 

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by NCC1701A

[soi3eddie 1,421]

Why not start with training any motorbike rider and enforcing existing laws? I saw three teenagers riding on Phaholyothin Road at Ari on Sunday. The insanely loud exhaust drew my attention. Three persons on one bike (150cc at most), speeding fast through heavy traffic and not one of them was wearing a helmet. I was expecting to hear a crash.

[thaipod 429]

It’s not the big bikes you need to worry about ,  it’s the idiots who think they are riding one. Excessive speed on a light 150cc with bicycle sized tyres and under the influence.

[essox essox 2,499]

20 minutes ago, Seismic said:

What about the many big bike riders who have been riding them for years, or even decades?. Again, an ill-thought out idea, with many questions still left unanswered. Another knee-jerk reaction to a problem that does not actually exist, from people with no expertise in the area.

what did you expect ??? where are you ????

[Grumpy one 2,783]

Who is going to train the Thai trainers? 

[essox essox 2,499]

and what about ALL THE THAI DRIVERS DRIVING big trucks/pickups ??

[VocalNeal 7,159]

Many countries have tiered systems for motorbike licences. This is not a new idea.  Some counties it is 125cc and up. Thailand has chosen 400 cc. For many, many years in Indonesia anything over 200cc was illegal.

What would be more realistic would be an age factor not the bike size. 

 

 

 

[toofarnorth 4,153]

' They would also have to ask additional questions on a test '.   For 'eavens sake  don't ask 15 yo Somchai any questions on anything . You might not get the answer you are looking for.

Yesterday while taking a roadside coffee about 6 large bikes went past , all Thais I would think as looked like a proper group , all kitted out in the proper gear , the bikes sounded good and nothing like a screaming Wave.

[mr mr 5,486]

awesome. so i can continue riding like a maniac on my duke 390. 

[cjinchiangrai 260]

15 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Many countries have tiered systems for motorbike licences. This is not a new idea.  Some counties it is 125cc and up. Thailand has chosen 400 cc. For many, many years in Indonesia anything over 200cc was illegal.

What would be more realistic would be an age factor not the bike size. 

 

 

 

I think 300 may the largest Thai built bikes, the PCX and Forza, so protect the industry. That might be different now.

 

You are right, age matters.  The kids with their 1000cc crotch rockets are a menace to themselves and others. Not much better with a 125 Click.

 

The training would be easy for an experienced rider, so not a real problem. How much could it cost?  In the US it is about 7000 baht and they provide the bikes. It was really good and even for my little electric scooter, provided insights that have saved my life.

[unamazedloso 5,078]

Sidecars?