Just before the summer school break, Glenys from Approach Too, in partnership with PCSOs Beth and Chris, began rolling out information to primary school pupils about E-scooters, off road bikes and quads.
Glenys said: “The presentation to West Cornforth pupils made sure they know how to stay safe and legal and what can happen (the consequences) to them and their family if they ride an off road bike, E-scooter or quad illegally. Did you know you can only ride an off-road motorbike, E-scooter or quad 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 off road bikes, E-scooters and quads in public open spaces such as parks, play areas, on the pavement and even in car parks. If you ride on a road, even for a short time, you will need to have a licence, insurance, tax, display a registration plate and hold a valid MOT.
Glenys added: “We looked at how off road bikes, quads and E-scooters can annoy, scare and intimidate lots of children, families, older people and pets.
“We also looked at the consequences for not only children but for parents and carers who allow children to use these vehicles illegally and who can also be taken to court, fined and get penalty points on their driving licence.
“We looked at the most common injuries for riders and their passengers including head trauma, broken collar bones, wrists and ankles and how to keep safe by wearing appropriate safety equipment, especially a helmet.
“Pupils also looked at the various ripple effects if a rider or passenger has an accident on an illegal off-road bike, quad or E-scooter.
“They learned about the immediate ripples and impact on physical health and the impact on emergency responders and witnesses. Then the family ripples for parents, siblings, concerned grandparents and uncles, aunts, cousins.
“There are friendship ripples for best friends, schoolmates and even online friends, and community ripples on social media and neighbours. And there are the legal ripples when police investigate an accident, as well as the ripples of paperwork, interviews, and legal proceedings.
“They also learned about fines and penalties for illegal biking because actions have consequences. These financial ripples touch how families live and how much money they have to spend. And of course there as psychological ripples when the experience of an accident ripples through sleep and flashbacks.”
If you are worried about people riding off road bikes or quads around your streets, parks or nature reserves, then you can report an incident by calling the police on 101 or online at www.durham.police.uk/ via the constabulary’s Live Chat option.
Before asking for or buying an off road bike, E-scooter or quad, think about where you will ride it. Is safe and legal? Will you get in trouble with the police?
Think where can you ride where you won’t be a danger to others, or where you won’t scare or annoy people.
If those places don’t exist nearby, ask yourself, is it really worth the expense when there is nowhere you can safely or legally use them?
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
