middle aged westerners

[SAFETY FIRST 294]

I was riding my PCX down soi buakhao the other day, stuck behind a slow-moving baht bus, as I waited slowly riding I heard one of those annoying loud scooters behind so I passed the baht bus swiftly pulling over to the left to allow the Thai rider to pass. To my amazement, it was middle aged, bald, westerner riding his blinged-up Aerox with his family (wife and child) onboard, none wearing a helmet...... you'd reckon he'd be riding in a safe manner with his family as pillion. I had to laugh as he passed as I thought it was one of the funniest/silliest things I've seen for quite some time.
Seriously, this was not a funny sight, why is it that there seems to be so many middle-aged western guys not wearing helmets, sadly many elderly/geriatric men are also not wearing helmets. 
We see the Thais not wearing helmets, the Thais have not had the education we westerners have been given, I can only assume all of those westerners not wearing helmets have no education. 

[from the home of CC 9,265]

I see this in Hua Hin often especially when school lets out. IMO western education is vastly overrated..

[EricTh 2,909]

Whenever there is a big bike around, you can be assured 95% of the time, they will be westerners.

 

Furthermore, they will be the first ones to zoom at top speed (over the speed limit) once the traffic lights go green endangering other people.

 

These uneducated people don't care about the traffic rules in Thailand.

Edited November 30, 2020 by EricTh

[mr mr 5,650]

momma says life's like a box of chocolates. 

[kingofthemountain 5,242]

6 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I was riding my PCX down soi buakhao the other day, stuck behind a slow-moving baht bus, as I waited slowly riding I heard one of those annoying loud scooters behind so I passed the baht bus swiftly pulling over to the left to allow the Thai rider to pass. To my amazement, it was middle aged, bald, westerner riding his blinged-up Aerox with his family (wife and child) onboard, none wearing a helmet...... you'd reckon he'd be riding in a safe manner with his family as pillion. I had to laugh as he passed as I thought it was one of the funniest/silliest things I've seen for quite some time.
Seriously, this was not a funny sight, why is it that there seems to be so many middle-aged western guys not wearing helmets, sadly many elderly/geriatric men are also not wearing helmets. 
We see the Thais not wearing helmets, the Thais have not had the education we westerners have been given, I can only assume all of those westerners not wearing helmets have no education. 

You are probably right, some of the westerners here in Pattaya

are obviously without any decent education

[Traubert 4,720]

I occasionally see, on Soi Buakhao, an oldie with a baldy napper and thin wispy ponytail trying to get his Hardly Dangerous onto the stand.

 

I just think 'give it up mate.'

Edited November 30, 2020 by Traubert
Addition

[Kwasaki 10,656]

Thanks for the laugh from the uneducated scooter & m/c riders posting in Thailand.

[kingofthemountain 5,242]

3 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Thanks for the laugh from the uneducated scooter & m/c riders posting in Thailand.

i think it has nothing to do with riding a motorcycle or not

in fact most of them are just walking, but a dumb is a dumb

and Pattaya has a decent percentage in the lot, no doubt about it

[CharlieH 28,697]

If you wish this topic to remain open, you need to STOP the generalised flamefest.

[OneMoreFarang 26,657]

Most of the time I and my gf wear a helmet. But not 100% of the time.

I.e. maybe we ride 300m around the block to the coffee shop without helmet.

I don't think that is a BIG problem. Most of us don't act 100% perfect all the time. And it Thailand that is possible - good luck for that.

[Kwasaki 10,656]

1 minute ago, kingofthemountain said:

i think it has nothing to do with riding a motorcycle or not

in fact most of them are just walking, but a dumb is a dumb

and Pattaya has a decent percentage in the lot, no doubt about it

Well maybe that's what you see in a place like Pattaya. 

Here where I am there are Thai big bike riders who are very responsible. 

Already what I really would like to say would get me a holiday.

[kingofthemountain 5,242]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Most of the time I and my gf wear a helmet. But not 100% of the time.

I.e. maybe we ride 300m around the block to the coffee shop without helmet.

I don't think that is a BIG problem. Most of us don't act 100% perfect all the time. And it Thailand that is possible - good luck for that.

You might think isn;t a problem however the statistics are against you

it seems most of the road accidents occurs in an area close to home

on a regular and well know travel, like home to work or home to school

(I have to search the link, but i read it few years ago)

[EricTh 2,909]

6 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Most of the time I and my gf wear a helmet. But not 100% of the time.

I.e. maybe we ride 300m around the block to the coffee shop without helmet.

I don't think that is a BIG problem. Most of us don't act 100% perfect all the time. And it Thailand that is possible - good luck for that.

 

It's alright if you don't wear a helmet if your destination is just around the neighbourhood.

 

But one thing that irks me is those big bike riders who rev up their engines once the traffic lights go green zooming at top speed.

 

Thai people (whether pedestrians or motorcyclists) are known to come out of nowhere and can cause a serious accident.

 

 

[kingofthemountain 5,242]

Just now, Kwasaki said:

Well maybe that's what you see in a place like Pattaya. 

Here where I am there are Thai big bike riders who are very responsible. 

Already what I really would like to say would get me a holiday.

Yes Pattaya has a special ''customers'' base.

However like i said even here in Pattaya the big bikes drivers are not

really the problem, i agree with you most of them, Thais and foreigners, are very responsible

(A big bike is a lot of money and a lot of passion too, nobody in his right mind want to lose 

all of it in a stupid accident)

But as usual there are still few bad apples in the basket, and there are the most noticeable

[uncleP 528]

In some countries  riding with a helmet is a choice not a law. Personally I always wear one , although it did not save my Thai GF in 2006 when a small truck ran over her head