41 quad bikes confiscated over five days in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: The traffic police has confiscated as many as 41 quad bikes over five days as part of an ongoing campaign to ensure traffic safety.

According to a study on traffic accidents, quad bike accidents are 35 times more serious than car accidents. Quad bikers are also at a four times higher risk of breaking bones. Most of the bikers were young boys.

The Traffic Investigation Section of the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrol Police Directorate has confiscated 41 quad bikes from June 11 to 16, police said in a statement. While 32 bikes were confiscated from Bani Yas, the remaining 9 were from Bain Al Jazrain and Officers City.

Major Hamad Mubarak Al Ameri, the Head of Traffic Investigation said the drivers of the bikes have been taken into custody and that legal action would be taken against them. Apart from fines, the penalty includes imprisonment for serious offences such as driving quad bikes without license or number plate, he warned.

Al Ameri said that the move is aimed at protecting the lives of children by saving them from dangerous accidents. Calling on parents to ensure safety of their children, he said that riding quad bikes in residential neighbourhoods could put them in grave danger apart from causing inconvenience to the residents. Bikers who avoid wearing helmets risk being handicapped, he said.

He explained that in view of the safety of the children, the police avoided chasing the bikers and caught them only after they stopped.