Recently, Ferryhill Station Ambassadors for Community Change helped deliver the information session Thrills or Spills about illegal off- road bikes, quads and e-scooters to pupils in year 5 and 6.
Glenys from Approach Too said: “We want all children and young people to know how to stay safe and legal and what can happen (the consequences) to them and their family if they ride illegally.
“We want them to know you can only ride an off-road motorbike, quad or e-scooter legally if it is on private land and you have the landowner’s permission. Land owned by the local council is not classed as private land and neither are nature reserves or Woodland Trust areas.
“It is against the law to ride these vehicles in public open spaces such as parks, play areas, on pavements and in car parks.”
The information session looked at at the most common injuries for riders and their passengers.
Pupils talked about making the right choices, what safety equipment riders should wear and what safety checks they should do before deciding to get onto a bike, quad or e-scooter.
The session covered information about riding an unregistered bike with no road tax, insurance, or licence, riding with no brakes, silencers, brake light, front and rear lights, direction indicators, footrests, getting the rider and their parents in trouble with the police. And most importantly, emphasising if they have an accident, they might get really badly hurt.
Glenys added: “There was lots of discussion about the ‘ripples of consequence’, what happens when a teen has an accident on an illegal off-road bike in the UK. The physical and emotional impact for families, friends, community and emergency workers.
“We all did a lot of talking. Thank you so much to PCSO Evans and Tia from Durham Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office for all their support.”
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
