In response to the recent proposed ban on young children riding on motorcycles, Save the Children calls for the government's attention to children below the age of two to not be allowed on motorcycles.  In addition, Save the Children urges the government, and the police, to enforce the existing helmet law for all passengers, particularly all children, 2 years old and up.

With an estimated 1.3 million children in Thailand traveling on motorcycles, the Thai government has legislated that all people – including children – are required to wear a safety helmet at all times.  Still, many child passengers are often seen without helmets – only 7% of children in Thailand currently wear helmets while riding motorcycles.  This leads to devastating results -  approximately 2600 children are killed, and more than 72,000 are injured, every year in road crashes.

Save the Children recommends that children under two should not ride motorcycles because they are at high risk of long-lasting injuries since they cannot wear helmets safely.   Save the Children also recommends that children under five only ride motorcycles under close supervision of an adult.  

Currently, there are no regulations by the Thai government on this matter. There is a law, however, that requires all passengers and drivers to wear helmets at all times.

Allison Zelkowitz, Save the Children in Thailand Country Director, explains, "At such a young age of two and below, children have insufficient muscle strength to support the weight of a helmet – they are more prone to injuries and should not be allowed on motorcycles at all.  Children between 2 to 5 years should only ride in front of an adult, and must always wear a child-sized helmet that fits properly, and is fastened tightly."

Save the Children seeks to minimize road crash risks to children through awareness building, education, enforcement and preventative tools and equipment to ensure safety and negate unnecessary exposure to harm.

"In Thailand, motorcycles are important in providing children access to schools and health facilities, but safety must always be the first concern.” says Allison.

Save the Children also recommends the use of alternate forms of transportation for young children.  These include public buses, subways, tricycles (tuk-tuks), taxis and public mini-vans. 

Save the Children in Thailandis currently partnering with the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation in a collaborative effort called “The 7% Project,” which aims to decrease motorcycle death and injury among Thai children by increasing helmet use from 7% to 60% by 2017.

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For more information:
Songporn Leelakitichok
Communications and Advocacy Coordinator
Save the Children Thailand
Email: bea.leelakitichok@savethechildren.org