Ainu to be worried about daughter on scooter in Thailand?

[MrsKeats]

For some reason I am convinced that my daughter will have an accident in Thailand when she goes shortly. This has not been helped by checking out stats online. Can someone talk me down?

she needs to check her insurance will cover her going on one as most holiday insurance companies specifically exclude them

Insurance was my first thought.

Get them on the grab app

I don’t wish to increase your anxiety, as someone that spent a lot of time in Thailand, I would never get on one.

is it possible to send her some extra £££ and tell her to take taxis? If that would help your worrying?

I’d be worried too OP. Not familiar with Thailand so will defer to others on the thread who are but I travelled quite a bit in East Africa in my 20s and I remember the general consensus with the old-hand development people I met there being ‘forget tropical diseases, it’s the roads that can kill you’. I once considered jumping on a motorbike taxi in Kampala and was asked if I really wanted to die for no reason. We hired a taxi for a bit more money. Would encourage a bit more money and a car.

I did it many times! Never rode one before the first time. Its easy! I mean, she might fall off. Who can say? I never did and they're pretty easy to use. My friend who was more experienced riding one fell off and scratched up his leg. What can you do? She is an adult.

FWIW i have spent a LOT of time in thailand - visited for months at a time many times. Also living abroad now in nearby country where everyone rides scooters. Have never known anyone to get more than a few scratches from an accident (and even that only happened to one person!)

Highly unlikely her insurance will cover that - normal travel insurance absolutely won't. It usually needs the activity added on at a premium, and only with a licence. She would be a total dickhead to get one and not be insured, and even more of a twat if she's never even ridden one before. Presumably she is hiring one to do one of the tourist loops in the north. I've ridden bikes a lot in Thailand. Roads and Thai drivers are fine. But the tourists ride like morons, because most of them aren't used to it and a high percentage are drunk and high. They are a real danger.

I wouldn't drive anything on those roads, there are no rules of the road, or none anyone follows. Just don't do it, you are so exposed on a scooter you are going to come off worse in any even minor accident. Scooter cabs are also really dangerous I knew a local who was very seriously injured in one of those, thrown out in a collision then went under another vehicle.

What do you mean thrown out? Are you speaking about tuktuks?

I’d be worried too. But not much you can do apart from remind her about safety.

Definitely. Check the small print very carefully. Friend of mine was involved in a serious accident, lost a leg, didn't get a penny as the bike was just over the size limit of his policy.

My cousin had a scooter accident in Thailand and broke his shoulder on the last day of his trip! His insurance wouldn’t cover it so my uncle had to pay the medical bills.

I’d dissuade your daughter from riding one.

Can you persuade her not to hire one?

I’d be worried.

She probably will ignore your concerns and ride one anyway.

The only things you can do is emphasise the importance of wearing a helmet. Buy her very good travel insurance.
Up to 125cc many will with an international drivers permit, but do check.

Shes also reasonably likely to be scammed over “damage” to the scooter when returning it.

the first i knew about was a photo regarding something else when dd had a bandage up her arm a few days after the event.
best not to know tbh

Yep, not in Thailand, but a friends son was involved in an accident riding a scooter. He did need medical care but was advised by someone at the hotel to say he tripped whilst drunk as his insurance would cover that, but not the riding of the scooter.
Obviously lying about an accident could cause issues/affect type of care given, but luckily he wasn't badly hurt so treatment was more general than specific .

Brilliant thanks!