How can we put a stop to the antics of motorbike gangs?

Police in Savannakhet province detained 18 young motorbike riders and confiscated 48 bikes after the gang rode at speed through the provincial capital in the middle of the night. This kind of antisocial behaviour is a public nuisance and tarnishes the reputation of Lao youth. Vientiane Times asked around for opinions on ways to stop such reckless activities.

Lamphone Pasanthong

Ms Phimphone, a resident of Xieng Khuang province: People who deliberately cause a disturbance and flout the law should be penalised and their parents should be engaged in efforts to stop this kind of behaviour. Everything should be done to instil a sense of responsibility in young people and, above all, they should not feel that they can break the law and get away with it. We need more police on the streets to curb the antics of motorbike gangs, and they should issue harsh penalties to discourage repeat offenders.
 
Ms Phoukhao Chanthavisouk, a resident of Hadxaifong district,
Vientiane: Unfortunately, night-time motorbike racing has become quite common, despite police efforts to crack down on this antisocial behaviour. It disturbs people in nearby neighbourhoods because of the noise these kids make. A concerted effort is needed in schools and by society at large to discourage teenagers from engaging in such self-indulgent revelry. Of course, all youngsters want to have fun, but they should be encouraged to ensure they stay within the bounds of the law. The police should also check out the operations of motorcycle accessory shops that may be breaking the law by selling illegal items that people can use to modify their bikes, making them more noisy. 

Mr Vansana Souvanhnavong, a student at the National University of Laos: The authorities need to combat this type of activity by giving talks in schools to warn students of the penalties they may face, and village officials should also keep an eye open for illegally modified bikes in local communities. As far as I’m aware, speed limits are never enforced during the daytime, so at night people are going to have even less respect for speed limits. The police should be on duty at probable race locations and I feel that more night-time policing is needed anyway. Everyone engaged in street racing should be prosecuted and given a heavy fine. The threat of fines may be the only way to deter people, especially if it’s their parents who have to pay up.
 
Ms Lisa Heuangmanisang, a student at the National University of Laos: Speeding motorbikes create a lot of noise, which is of course the whole purpose of the activity, as well as ridiculing the police. This doesn’t just happen on the streets; even at school, some people drove around on their bikes making a lot of noise, which distracted us during lessons. Driving at speed with modified exhaust pipes also creates pollution. The solution is to strictly enforce the law and put more police on the streets to force people to obey speed limits and other regulations.
 
Ms Phonely, a resident of Xieng Khuang province: It is dangerous because they drive much too fast. A lot of these kids probably don’t take any notice of their parents, but nevertheless parents should lay down rules and question children about their night-time activities. They must have some idea of what they’re up to, although I’m well aware that young people often have no respect for authority. The police really need to get tough about street racing and impose harsh penalties. Another approach would be to open a race track where youngsters can race their bikes, so they have an alternative to roaring through city centres.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update August 25, 2023)