?! Run that by me again!

Weeell, maybe it was really the fact that free helmets and spark plugs were on offer. Nevertheless, we welcome every effort made to bring to the attention of a large proportion of the motorised public the fact that such an issue as road safety actually exists. You’ve guessed it! I’m referring to teenage motorcyclists, although they are by no means the only culprits.

The fact is that these people (more often referred to as innocent children when the question of relations with adults are concerned) are permitted by indulgent parents from the age, it appears, of about 11 years, to mount these lethal machines. Soon-with the encouragement of their slightly older peers-they replace the muffler and indulge in death defying road races. Even if they are among the few who avoid the lethal road races, it is fun, you know, to cut corners when turning right, whether or not one can see what’s coming-and cool to zip in and out of fast lane traffic. A real blast to run the lights or zoom out of minor roads into main road traffic without warning. What a hoot! Especially so if you nearly hit some terrified old (over 30) car driver or tottering geriatric (over 40) pedestrian. Sanuk, sanuk!

This problem, like so many in Thailand, needs first to be addressed at root level; and then the rules and laws have to be enforced.

At least an hour of every school day should be devoted to civic subjects from the earliest age. Not simply recitation of holy works but real, in depth study of social issues, amongst which of course are courtesy and road safety. Perhaps, incidentally, they might also learn in such classes how it is unwise to lend one’s body to anyone who will pay you a hundred or two baht to use it-even if you do need money to pay for the muffler alteration or a fattening Big (oops, nearly used the "M" word!).

As to enforcement. The attitude of the police in Pattaya, and Thailand generally, seems to be-as Insider of Bangkok Post said on another subject-"What’s the point of having laws if you have to go to the trouble of enforcing them." Again this is an issue which needs addressing at root level. In most other countries police are trained to recognise misdemeanours and criminal activities. They are instructed in techniques of prevention of law breaking and of arrest. It is drummed into them that they are, as an arm of the law, important members of society and must act in such a way as to set an example to the public to earn their respect and trust. This, unfortunately, seems not to be the case in Thailand. Instruction seems to be based mainly on drill, how to wear smart body clinging uniforms (and how ludicrous these look on those police who have succumbed to the growing taste for the afore-mentioned Big "thing" and similar imported products) and how to achieve promotion by passing up the tree a healthy amount of extorted cash. Naturally, they also learn how to cling onto enough of the cash to pay for their nice house, their BMW and their mia noi.

(Before we get a wave of letters angrily denying our assumptions, let us hasten to say some of our best friends are policemen. We, truthfully, know of many policemen, though unfortunately still a minority, who are as honest and as diligent as they are permitted by a resistant system to be. They are also, for some reason, quite a lot poorer than their colleagues.)

Law enforcement seems generally to be a political matter. The public become incensed about an incident or about a growing problem of law breaking. Rumblings are heard from on high, a ministerial decree is issued and a local police chief climbs reluctantly from the bed of his latest mia noi or, if it happens to be during one of the rare occasions when he is actually in his office, takes his feet off the desk and calls his force to order. Policemen are instructed exactly what to do and off they trot to do exactly that-until they are told to stop. Then they go back to the more important task of collecting their "dues". There is little effort to apprehend miscreants during non-crack-down days. Blaring mufflers are ignored, speeding disregarded, traffic violations condoned. Indeed, it is often police on their own motorcycles themselves who are the culprits.

Children in school (and at home) need, by example and instruction, to learn how a just society works and the essential graces of social interaction. They must also learn, as the educational authorities here are gradually beginning to realise, to think and act for themselves. Police in their colleges need almost the same thing in addition to basic police training. Until they receive it, the public’s poor image of the police will persist, and rightly so-and the discourteous behaviour of the "new" youth of Thailand will continue to distress us, and put our lives at risk on the road.