Parents are warned of ‘dangerous’ micro-bikes

PARENTS are being warned about ‘dangerous’ new micro-motorbikes that have claimed the lives of two children in Northern Ireland, as a consumer watchdog fears they are being aimed at children here.

Director of Consumer Affairs Carmel Foley yesterday issued the warning after a survey conducted by her office in June revealed that these micro motorbikes are for sale in at least 18 outlets here.

"There is a huge public concern about the deaths of these two Northern Ireland children because these child-sized, petrol-fuelled motorbikes are very dangerous and can reach speeds of up to 25mph," Ms Foley said.

Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (ODCA) inspectors carried out the survey to see if there was a problem here with the sale of these bikes which originated in juvenile motorbike racing and found they were widely available.

"It is greed that has led to the crossover of these bikes from a proper sporting activity to general use because many of them cost up to €1,000 and the suppliers know there is a market for them," Ms Foley said.

But the sale of the micro motorbikes could be far more widespread because they could be sold at markets or through newspaper ads where the seller is untraceable, Ms Foley added.

Under the Road Traffic Act, it is an offence for children under the age of 16 to drive vehicles in public places and to supply them to under 16s.

But the ODCA survey found that the majority of bikes sold were aimed at younger children.

Ten of the 18 outlets selling the micro motorbikes claimed the bikes were for use only by 16 or over 17 year olds. But two of the 18 traders asked customers to sign a disclaimer form, which says the purchaser knows the product is not for use by people under the age of 16.

"This could be seen as a cynical attempt to abdicate responsibility for selling what could be regarded as an unsafe product to children because the bikes are designed for the under-14 age group," Ms Foley said.

However, there is a General Product Safety Directive that makes it illegal for distributors to supply a product that could possibly be dangerous.

The Director of Consumer Affairs can take a product off the market if it is deemed unsafe.

A spokesman for the traders selling the micro motorbikes was not available for comment.