“It’s Technically a Helmet,” Says Grab Driver Holding Sparkly Pink Unicorn Headgear from Toy Section
KIP DUNGWORTH, STAFF REPORTER
BANGKOK, THAILAND — As Thailand begins stricter enforcement of its motorcycle helmet law this week, some riders are proving they’ve misunderstood the assignment — none more so than a GrabBike driver in Ratchathewi spotted placing a glittery unicorn helmet on his passenger’s head.
The item, clearly from a toy store and designed for maximum sparkle and minimum protection, was described by the driver as “technically compliant.”
“It covers the head,” he told officers at a traffic stop. “Very safe.”
Under a new campaign led by the Royal Thai Police, riders and passengers not wearing proper helmets face fines of up to 2,000 baht, with drivers carrying helmetless passengers liable for double. The crackdown is part of the nationwide “Safe Roads Project,” targeting high-risk areas — including schools, intersections, and anywhere tourists try to drive rented scooters.
Despite the clear warning, enforcement officers have reported a surge in novelty helmets, bicycle caps, and one unfortunate man wearing an upside-down salad bowl secured with shoelaces.
“The law says helmet, not fashion accessory,” said one traffic officer in Chatuchak. “This isn’t cosplay. It’s road safety.”
The GrabBike driver, who declined to give his name but gestured proudly at his unicorn inventory, argued the headgear “brought joy and safety together.” His passenger — a visibly embarrassed British tourist named Chloe — later admitted she thought it was a joke until the bike hit 70 km/h.
“It was cute until it tried to fly off my face,” she said.
Police let the pair off with a warning but confiscated the unicorn helmet, which is now being used to hold pens at a local checkpoint.
As of press time, the driver had been seen browsing the children’s section at Big C, muttering something about “Doraemon maybe better for wind.”