Driving unregistered quad bikes banned

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has barred people from driving and renting unregistered quad bikes with immediate effect.

"All quad bikes in Dubai whether owned individually or by companies must be registered with the Licensing Agency of the RTA," said Ali Al Jasem, Director of the Licensing Department at the RTA. He said the new law has been introduced to regulate the sport of quad biking and ensure safety of users in line with the RTA's strategic plan of safe driving.

Al Jasem said those who fail to follow the new rule would get fines ranging from Dh200 to Dh1,000. The bikes will be impounded in case of repeated violations. The Licensing Agency will enforce the new law in coordination with Dubai Police.

"Although, we don't have any statistics about quad bike-related accidents and deaths, there have been reports about such incidents and we want to minimise them by implementing new regulations," he added.

The official said that a study about off-road biking accidents in the US showed that a total of 9,885 off-road motorbike-related deaths were recorded from 1982 to 2007 and some 28 per cent of them (around 2,497) were children below the age of 16.

"Our aim to introduce new regulations is to improve public safety while ensuring that people continue to enjoy off-road biking, which is quite popular in the emirate," Al Jasem said.

He said that though it was not mandatory to have a driving licence to own or rent a quad bike, the user must have basic operational knowledge and should know safety guideline. The RTA has also signed agreement with leading driving schools to give lessons and training for driving a quad bike.

Now all the quad bikes will also have insures. Companies that rent quad bikes at recreational spots in the emirate will also cover the bike and the passenger, a practice that was earlier not enforced.

The users, especially tourists, will get quick lessons on the spot before renting a bike. A bike will not be rented to any one below 16 years without the permission of a guardian. Also, driving a quad bike on the road is strictly prohibited.

Do you agree with this rule? Would this reduce the number of quad bike related accidents?

It will be great to have a picture with a rider wearing safety equipment, a basic rule: wear safety equipment like a helmet!What is really the purpose of this rule? Why not have plate numbers like in Europe? This would allow the police to have greater control.
John
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 13:42

This will definetily icrease the rental prices for quad bikes. Bad.When renting one next time, you can be sure the wheels won't come off while in the middle of the desert. Good.
Denis Akk
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 12:05

I believe registering the quad bikes are not necessary but yes this would be a really good move of RTA by putting ban on quad bikes on road and restricting them to age limit.
Waseem Raza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 11:49

No further comment.. I am 100% agreed with the new rules put in by the RTA.
Maria Juliana Medhea
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 10:51

I fully agree to this wise decision from the authorities, which i feel will put an end to the vandalism these riders create on the roads (like in Satwa, Jumeirah, Al Qusais areas) they dont realise these are dune buggies and not street bikes. Hats off to this decision, this should have been done earlier too.
Chacko Jacob
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 09:28

Registring the quads doesn't make any sense to me if they are not meant to be driven on the roads anyway.
Faisal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 08:44

Getting insurance for people hiring a quad bike from companies is a very good initiative. I know a few people who met with accidents like toppling over while riding a rented quad bike near Hatta. One poor friend even broke his arm! And he was a tourist who did not have insurance here!
Ali Shah
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 08:17

Yes, definitely it is going to have a very good effect and i will appreciate the RTA and UAE authorities for taking action on this. Moreover, i just want to mention that is it allowed to use quad bikes riding on normal roads, because they are running with high speed inside the city and streets and it also makes more noise, if it is allowed with huge noise and inside city and streets driving of quad bikes, please review that also and bring some regulations on that also.
Abu Al Aurs
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 07:53

I hope this law is to safe human lives not another way to make money.
Faisal Habib
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 07:51

I dont believe registering such quad bikes is necessary, who is going to monitor such quad bikes in the desert?
Shahnawaz Khan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 13, 2009, 02:31