First of all, it is against the law to ride a motorcycle without a helmet so the person is already doing something illegal.

It also depends on other factors. Example is a foreigner involved, does any of them have a licence.

If both motorists agree to pay for damages and hospital bills, and also pay the police for their time then the problem can be rectified quickly.

There's more people who wear helmets than that in Vientiane. In rural areas, it's another story.

The car is at fault because it's a big vehicle versus a little vehicle.

Another thing people should be aware of is that in Laos, if you're involved in a traffic accident and a person dies, you must serve some jail time even if you are not at fault.

If you caused the accident then expect a lengthy jail term.

Hehe, admin you are funny. If the larger vehicle is always at fault because it is a bigger vehicle, then I will always drive a smaller vehicle, that way, I will never be at fault. If that were true in North America, my small honda would rule the roads. The way it works here, admin, is that there is such a thing called "right of way" which governs the rules of the road. We don't expect a huge truck to come to a complete stop if some bad driver decides to cut them off. No vehicle can defy the laws of physics. Also, the mentality here is that the smaller vehicles should try to avoid the larger vehicles since they will most likely kill you if you get in their way. That is one of the reasons why americans like big cars, lots of metal around you to protect you supposedly. So if you are crazy enough to get in the way of a large moving vehicle, then it's your own fault for being that stoopid, we like to call it contributory negligence.
It shocked me to see a lot of mothers riding motorcycles/mopeds with two small children on the back and one in the front for a total of four people on one small bike, all with no helmets. If we did that here, we would go to jail for sure and it would be all over CNN. Makes me wonder how much freedom we really have in the US/Canada, hehe...

Buk Hoo Kee wrote on 30^th Jul, 2009 at 10:58pm:


Haha! Many years ago, I thought it might be fun to drive in Asia. However, 5 minutes after my first arrival I quickly realized that I have don't have the skills. Public transportation is is readily available in many places, and the drivers know the rules.  No worries that way.  

Do they have ladies on motorcycles/mopeds that you can pay them to drive you around on the back seat. I saw these in thailand and you basically ride on the back of the bike hanging on to this chick. I thought that was pretty kinky. Hey admin, you want to go for a ride, you drive since I can't.

If you asked around some girls in Laos might be happy to give you a ride if they got paid. I'm too busy to do anything these days.