New Speed Limit Planned for Big-Bikes in Thailand

BANGKOK – The Transport Ministry has announced plans to limit big-bike riders speed limits and ban lane Splitting. Big-bike riders will be limited to 80 kilometers per hour in built-up areas for safety.

Officials said on Tuesday that under the “lane-splitting” ban, big-bike riders would not be permitted to ride between vehicles. They would have to wait for traffic lights behind other vehicles in traffic lanes.

They would be required to limit their speed at 80kph in urban and community areas, he said.

The ministry would also require big-bike riders to undergo specially-designed tests before obtaining big bike driving licenses. There will be special test fields for big bike riders and riders would also undergo simulations of danger-prone situations.

The ministry would require foreign tourists to show a motorcycle licenses while renting big-bikes in the country. The motorcycle licenses requirement never previously existed in Thailand.

Many foreigners have died in motorcycle accidents in the country, over the past few years. Mainly for riding big-bikes at high speed or riding them while intoxicated.

The Ministry did not give a time-frame for the imposition of the new big-bike rules. The said officials would finalize new measures for motorcycle safety within 30 days before seeking cabinet approval.

Big-Bike Rider Decapitated

In July music industry executive was decapitated when his big-bike hit the railing of a flyover in Bangkok. Police found the headless body of a man and a BMW S1000 that appeared to have lost control.

According to eyewitnesses, Patnarin was riding his big bike at high speed and continued onto the flyover.  During the crash, his neck might have been severed by the flyover railing.

The helmet with the head fell into the opposite lane while the big-bike slid 200m from the body.

The big-bike rider was later identified as Patnarin Phongthananikorn, 37. An executive of the Music Train label and youngest son of its owner Prasert.

Thailand’s Ministry of Transport recently introduced new e-drivers licenses and a points system to punish bad drivers. The points system was adopted from a similar system in Japan. Were road safety is a high priority and citizens are well educated on driver safety.

New driving laws can be implement in Thailand till the cow’s come home but without enforcement their useless.