CHILDREN AS YOUNG as ten are driving quad bikes illegally around Dublin, reaching speeds in excess of 60kph.
This is according to Dublin councillor Daithí de Róiste who has called for a total ban on the vehicles, criticising the “mayhem and destruction” that they cause.
While there are restrictions in place against quad and scrambler bikes, De Róiste is calling for greater enforcement of this law, saying that Garda should “confiscate each and every quad bike they come across”.
The law
Individuals are allowed to use quad bikes on the road, however – regardless of engine capacity – the users of such vehicles are required to have insurance, road tax, a driving licence and to be wearing a helmet.
At current motorbikes, mopeds, trikes and quads are not required to undergo road worthiness testing.
Speaking about children using the vehicles, De Róiste went on to say:
A child is incredibly unsuited to a quad bike. They can get high power with very little effort and the steering is quite tricky, particularly if they hit a rough surface… parents right across Dublin city seem to think it is a bright idea for their young child to get one as a present.
He also went on to call for a national registry of ownership similar to what is in place for other motor vehicles.
Nuisance
Speaking to TheJournal.ie at Christmas, one Garda explained how the vehicles could become an annoyance, particularly at that time of the year:
One year I worked, everyone had a scrambler bike and the kids were driving past the station to try to get us to chase them. We spent the whole shift telling parents to keep them inside. Obviously they didn’t and we had to summons to court.
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