Health & Safety News Brief
Occupational Health & Safety Information Service

Action over mini-motorbikes welcomed

RoSPA welcomes the 1 August 2006 announcement that the Home Office is planning to take action on the increasing problem of reckless and thoughtless mini-motorbike riding. The Society has been campaigning for tighter controls and better provision for their use.

There have been at least six deaths involving mini-motorbikes in the last two years, four of which were children, and many more people are likely to have been injured.

The Home Office's Respect Task Force has published new guidance to raise awareness of the problem and highlight ways to control it.

Specifically, it introduces the new power of awarding points on driving licences, and the future driving licences of children too young to have one at present, for illegally riding unregistered mini-motorbikes and similar off-roading vehicles on pavements, in parks and on public highways.

Riders will also face the prospect of having their motorbike crushed if they are found to be using it illegally. Several authorities have already been seizing and crushing illegal bikes.
The low purchase price and the ability to buy on-line has resulted in a massive increase in the sale of such motorbikes.

Peter Cornall, RoSPA Head of Leisure Safety, said: "This announcement is a good step, but further measures to control and prevent accidents are still needed. There are hundreds of thousands of these so-called "toys" in the UK. Thought needs to be given by local authorities to providing safe riding places as has been done for skateboards and BMXs.

"We also need to ensure that responsible selling occurs in the future so that, along with the bikes, buyers are encouraged to purchase the necessary safety equipment, such as motorbike crash helmets."

www.rospa.com