Tourists warned not to be dickheads

There is nothing more Australian than getting tanked up and then hiring a motorbike or quadbike to bomb around Bali or Thailand without a care in the world.

But as the northern hemisphere holiday season approaches, tourists have been warned to avoid hiring motorcycles and quads abroad. Particularly if they do not have adequate insurance.

Holidaymakers have also been warned to think twice before hiring buggies and mopeds abroad after a string of deaths and injuries.

Car rental experts at StressFreeCarRental.com have cautioned tourists looking for fun, warning that many of the vehicles on offer are extremely dangerous.

Vehicles like mopeds are readily available and accessible to tourists abroad, especially in party destinations in Greece and Thailand. But many tourists are unaware of the dangers and ignore road rules when using them.

In Phuket, Thailand, there were over 500 reports of motorbike accidents involving tourists in the first two months of 2023 alone.

The vice-governor of Phuket, Amnuay Pinsuwan, said most cases involved people with no driving licenses, wearing swimsuits and driving at high speeds.

In January, a Ukrainian man, who was not wearing a helmet, was found dead in Bali after his rented motorbike went off a bridge.

A spokesperson for StressFreeCarRental.com said: “Although hiring motorcycles and quads is popular in tourist destinations, the number of tragic accidents involving them proves just how dangerous they are.

“Tourists should read the fine print on their insurance policies and take all the necessary precautions to protect themselves. Many factors can invalidate their insurance, including not wearing a crash helmet or hiring an unregistered vehicle.

“The risk to life is higher when driving on unfamiliar roads, especially in small, open vehicles which offer little protection, so failure to take proper care will inevitably lead to severe and fatal injuries.

“Although the rules may seem more relaxed while abroad, under no circumstances should tourists consider driving under the influence because the vehicles are still dangerous machinery with the power to harm both driver and passers-by.

“Getting a taxi, or hiring a car, is much safer and should be considered where possible.”

Image: Choi Sung Wook, Scop.io