Gardaí are calling on families not to gift children and teens with quad bikes and scramblers this Christmas.
In the last few years, there have been a number of people killed or injured in collisions involving a quad bike or a scrambler on public roads. Most of these incidents involved children under 18 years of age.
Sixty-two people were killed in accidents involving off-road vehicles in 2017.
With such vehicles being unsuitable for children and young teenagers, Gardaí are warning that injuries sustained in crashes can be life-changing.
Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau stated, “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.”
Gardaí are also highlighting the fact that some youths on scramblers have been linked to anti-social behaviour in our parks and public areas.
This illegal and anti-social use of scramblers and quads poses a serious safety hazard, and a potential to cause fear and intimidation in our communities.
Gardaí say they will have a visible presence in highlighted locations and will be enforcing the Public Order Act and the Road Traffic Act.
