Quad bikes illegal for under-16s, warns RSA

QUAD bikes and mini-motorbikes are dangerous and are illegal as presents for children under 16, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has warned.

The dangers were highlighted by a medical expert who has seen dozens of serious injuries from accidents with these vehicles in recent years.

Alf Nicholson, consultant paediatrician at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, has seen about 50 injuries in the last five years, including a high rate of fractures and head injuries.

“They may be great fun, but mini-bikes and quad bikes pose significant dangers to children,” said Mr Nicholson, a senior lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

The message from the RSA is that, not only do these vehicles have high risk of accidents, the 2004 Road Traffic Act make it illegal to give one to anybody under 16. The maximum fine for giving these or any other kind of vehicle to someone in that age category is €3,000, with a six-month jail term also possible. These mini vehicles are also governed by general road regulations, including requirements for brakes, headlamps, rear lighting and indicators.

“Christmas and birthdays are the times of the year when these kinds of vehicles are given as presents, so we just want to make sure people know the risks,” said an RSA spokesperson.

He highlighted the horrific injuries suffered by rock singer and reality TV star Ozzy Osbourne in 2003, when he was in a quad bike accident in Britain. They included a cracked vertebra, eight broken ribs and a broken collarbone.

“These things are not toys, in fact quad bikes are mostly used for work on farms but they all come with clear safety instructions and should only be used while wearing helmets,” said the RSA spokesperson.

The authority is widening its awareness campaign on the issue following its inclusion it as a key requirement under the five-year Road Safety Strategy published by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey in October.

www.rsa.ie