No child under two should be on motorcycles

With an estimated 1.3 million children in Thailand travelling on motorcycles, the government has legislated that all people – including children – must wear a safety helmet at all times. Still, many child passengers are often seen without helmets – only 7 per cent of children in Thailand currently wear helmets while riding motorcycles. This leads to devastating results: approximately 2,600 children are killed, and more than 72,000 injured, every year in road crashes.

We recommend that children under two should not ride motorcycles as they are at high risk of longlasting injuries since they cannot wear helmets safely.  We also recommend that children under five only ride motorcycles under close adult supervision. Currently, there are no government regulations on this. But there is a law 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 childsized helmet that fits properly, and is fastened tightly. In Thailand, motorcycles are important in providing children access to schools and health facilities, but safety must always be the first concern.” 

We also recommend the use of alternate forms of transport for young children: public buses, subways, tricycles (tuktuks), taxis and public minivans.  

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

Songporn Leelakitichok

Save the Children Thailand