Best wishes to the policeman for a speedy recovery. As for the boy, no helmet, clearly no brains! I cannot understand the irresponsible parents who allow their kids to behave like this. I hope they throw the book at the kid so hopefully his schoolmates learn this is a serious matter.

Posted by Amazing Thailand on August 5, 2014 10:32

I think like most people that there has been too much toleration of under age bike riders with no credentials. Others take the blame for their indiscretions. Maybe not this time. Hope the policeman recovers okay.

Maybe with new bus services hopefully running in the near future, there will be no 'excuse' for under age riders!

Posted by Logic on August 5, 2014 11:35

I hope the policeman recovers completely and speedily. These youngsters and underage riders have little or no regard for laws or respect for anyone. It is a condition that is going to have to change in the future, as the saying goes, Manners maketh man. Enough said.

Posted by Robin on August 5, 2014 11:46

sorry for policeman. They are specialized in checking helmets ( easy job). But I was yesterday in Patong by car. The taxi mob waves me away from any single parking spot (..You can not park here, is reserved for friend.). The phuket police force still not understand the change, I want them to tell me when I can park my car in Patong on public places!! Whu the mob is still in charge and tell me to move or my tires will be punctured!? Police-->, priority, priority. As you see, thai youngsters already not respect you anymore. Police, change your priorities! Make I can park my car at a street in patong! The motorbike kids are not a problem now. Set your priorities with your manpower!

Posted by Kurt on August 5, 2014 13:01

Take the young person's bike and confiscate it and then HEAVERLY fine the parents and maybe this sort of thing will start to make these young people that they are not immune to the law

Posted by Anonymous on August 5, 2014 13:31

First of all, hope the police offiser recover as soon as possible. Then the biggest dream in my life as long as I stay in Phuket. May the lord in heaven take away all drivers on motorbikes, cars,van's,trucks and busses without driving license. The traffic in Thailand will change totally. On my way back from Phatthalung to Phuket to day, I could paid every motorbikerider with a helmet 100 thb and still have money for very exclusive dinner with champagne and wine.

Posted by Retired Roadworker on August 5, 2014 15:44

Loads off sympathy for the Sgt Maj and here's to a speedy recovery (pardon the pun) - unfortunately the cops on the checkpoints have little protection. Very rarely to they have hi-vis vests and other proper equipment for controlling traffic. It wouldn't have made a lot of difference in this case but if he'd had a helmet on instead of a soft hat his impact with the road could have been lessened.

I hope this youth feels the full weight of the law - too many teenagers in Phuket are a law unto themselves, parents either don't care or use 'influence' to keep them out of the pokey. It's certainly the case where I live and there is an 'understanding between the local police and those running the town. we therefore have gangs of teenage youths roaring around on modified motorbikes ruining the quality of life of others. I ask local people why they put up with this contempt for others. They shrug their shoulders and say 'his father have power, police do nothing'. Time to break this circle of cronyism.

Posted by Mister Ree on August 5, 2014 16:45

When my friends, who come to visit the Kingdom, ask me why I strongly recommend them not to to ride a bike, neither as a driver not as a passenger, I explain them even if they druve with an utmost attention, there is big number of ther subjects , who participates in traffic, who will appear driving sideways on you, or from behind and just what can be meant??a possible front collusion, and no amount of attention and skills, obtained on Western road, will help you to cope.

Posted by Sue on August 6, 2014 00:03

Let's hope his superiors invest some of their large budget on high viz jackets for their men conducting these checks from now on this coupled with a better method of slowing down these people at vehicle check points for inspection rather than putting his men in harms way must be a priority ,we've been conducting VCP checks like this for decades in the western armed forces without this kind of sad out come

Posted by Scunner on August 6, 2014 01:38