West Donegal parents warned that quad bike usage by children could be fatal
Gardaí reported an increase in incidents of quad bikes being driven by youths and children on public roads around west Donegal
Parents have been urged to prevent “tragedy on the roads”, following an increase in reports in west Donegal of youths driving quad bikes in “an erratic and dangerous manner.”
Gardaí reported an increase in incidents of quad bikes being driven by youths and children on public roads around west Donegal, and stated that the behaviour was “reckless” and posed “a threat to the safety of other road users and to the safety of the youths themselves.”
Garda Sean Sweeney of Buncrana Garda Station warned parents that quad bikes were “powerful machines that have the potential to severely or even fatally injure someone,” and that if used on public roads, quad bikes were subject to the same rules that apply to other vehicles.
He said: “Quads are not a toy and they were not designed for young people to play around with. They were designed to be driven off-road, for example, on a farm and not by children.
“In many of the reports received, the quads are being driven in an erratic and dangerous manner. The drivers or owners are not covered by insurance and many of the drivers are too young to have a driving licence, not to mention drive.
“This appeal is particularly aimed at parents. A number of fatalities involving children on quads have occurred in recent years and many children sustain horrific injuries as a result of quads each year.
“Do not under any circumstances allow your children to use a quad unless they are the legal age to do so and they use it in the correct manner, safely and in accordance with the law. We do not want a tragedy on the roads. We urge parents to help us prevent that from happening, as one thing is certain, the clock cannot be turned back should the unthinkable happen.”