GARDAÍ and the Road Safety
Authority (RSA) have launched a new public awareness
campaign to highlight the dangers that quad bikes and
scramblers pose to children and urge parents not to gift
them this Christmas.
Three of the six people who died in Ireland as a result
of an incident involving a quad bike or scrambler,
between 2014 to 2019, were aged 18 or under according to
provisional statistics published by the RSA.
The casualty figures also show that in the same period,
60 people were injured in collisions involving a quad
bike or scrambler on a public road. Of those killed or
injured, 41% of casualties were 18 years of age or
under.
Assistant Commissioner Paula Hillman, National Roads
Policing and Community Engagement Bureau, An Garda
Síochána, said: "The use of scramblers and quads by
children poses a serious safety hazard. These are
powerful machines, which have the potential to severely
or even fatally injure someone. That is why they not
suitable to be used by children or inexperienced riders.
Parents considering buying quad bikes or scramblers for
their children this Christmas, need to be aware that
when used on a public road they are subject to the same
rules as other mechanically propelled vehicles.
Members of An Garda Síochána do not want to be
delivering devastating news to another family this
Christmas so our message is clear; children and young
teenagers should not be driving these vehicles in
public, or without the necessary licence, insurance,
safety equipment and supervision."
It is an offence for these vehicles to be used in public
places such as parks and public areas. This illegal and
anti-social use of scramblers and quads causes fear and
intimidation in our communities.
Ms. Liz O’Donnell, RSA Chairperson, said: "Every
Christmas, quad bikes and scramblers are given as
presents, sometimes to very young children, so it’s
important people are informed of the risks. These
machines are not toys. They are intended to be driven by
people in a supervised and controlled environment. In
the hands of inexperienced and often unsupervised
children in public places, they are a serious danger. If
you’re planning to gift a quad bike or scrambler this
Christmas, please reconsider. If it’s the thought that
counts, please think again.” |
