Details emerge about popular electric three-wheelers that are easy to purchase with 0% installment promotions and require no registration, posing a risk of increasing the statistics on 'inheritance-accelerating vehicles' as elderly fatalities rise sharply.
Regarding the case of 'inheritance-accelerating vehicles' or 'small electric three-wheelers' which are widely used by many elderly people but cause problems when driven on main roads, increasing the risk of accidents.
A well-known example includes 'Grandma Speedster' in Setthakit Village, Bang Khae district, Bangkok, who was seen driving an electric three-wheeler on a main road against traffic and hitting a police cone. Several witnesses expressed concern over her driving behavior and the potential for accidents involving her and others. Most recently, on 5 Sep 2026, local residents posted a clip showing the grandmother wearing a raincoat driving in heavy rain while one of her wheels was visibly misaligned.
Following this case, Thairath Online's special report team inquired further with shops selling electric three-wheelers for elderly users. The shops provided information about popular models purchased by elderly customers as follows:
1. Small model without a roof
Compact in size, requiring little parking space, rechargeable at home. Batteries come included with the vehicle. Available both as pre-assembled and as kits for self-assembly, with seating from one to three people.
2. Medium to large model with a roof
The vehicle is medium to large in size, requiring dedicated parking space and home charging. Batteries come included, mostly pre-assembled, with seating from two to five people.
Both popular models can generally be purchased via installment plans over 10 months, and stores with major promotions may offer financing up to 24-48 months, making them easy to buy and sell, resulting in increasing demand.
However, small electric three-wheelers cannot be registered under the 1979 Motor Vehicle Act because their electric motor power and maximum speed do not meet legal requirements, nor do they comply with other safety standards as follows:
Since registration is not possible, these vehicles cannot be legally driven on public roads or main streets. Use of unregistered vehicles is a violation of the Motor Vehicle Act, Section 6, which prohibits use of unregistered vehicles on roads, punishable by a fine up to 10,000 baht, and Section 43, which penalizes low-speed vehicles mixing with regular traffic as obstruction and accident risk, with fines from 400 to 1,000 baht. Driving on sidewalks violates the Cleanliness Maintenance Act, with fines up to 5,000 baht.
Additionally, these vehicles cannot obtain mandatory motor insurance, so in case of accidents or losses, the driver must bear full responsibility.
Risks to be aware of when elderly people use electric three-wheelers
1. Speed is difficult to control and may obstruct traffic due to insufficient acceleration.
2. Poor visibility at night, in rain, or at intersections, especially since many elderly people have declining eyesight, impairing their ability to see the road clearly.
3. Weak vehicle structure, increasing the risk of serious injury in accidents.
Store staff advise that elderly users should regularly have their vision and hearing checked and develop vehicle control skills to avoid collisions.
They recommend using safe, familiar routes within residential areas, avoiding main roads and highways, obeying traffic laws, not driving against traffic or cutting off others, and avoiding night driving to prevent accidents where other drivers may not see them or where accidents may go unnoticed.
They also recommend elderly users equip themselves with safety gear such as helmets, seat belts, anti-tip wheels, armrests and side support seats, LED lights, and warning signals to prevent serious accidents and losses, as well as protect others.
According to data from the Accident Reduction Network Office (ARNO) the proportion of elderly fatalities from road accidents doubled between 2018 and 2024, with 81% being drivers, 13.6% passengers, and 4.9% pedestrians. The leading cause of death was motorcycle crashes, accounting for 82%.