Police seek quad bikes to curb stunts on the roads
Officers from the patrols section submitted a plan to infiltrate car races and, in doing so, they would be able to identify and detain the violators without giving them any chance to escape.
Police officers have asked for quad bikes in a bid to go undercover and keep pace with youths who are stunt-driving on motorcycles and in cars.
In an official request to their seniors, officers from the patrols section submitted a plan to infiltrate car races and, in doing so, they would be able to identify and detain the violators without giving them any chance to escape.
The plan will soon be assessed by Brigadier General Shaikh Talib Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police.
Officers said they were keen on the idea of infiltrating gangs of youths and their illegal stunt displays following recommendations from a range of police studies.
They believe youngsters will come to the stage where they are afraid of being arrested at any time and have their vehicles seized. In most cases, youths on bikes manage to evade the police by crossing roads, mounting pavements and riding down narrow paths.
"The best way to curb this phenomenon is fighting it with its own weapon, where the police in civilian clothes will be provided with these bikes and will get involved in the stunt-driving and races," a spokesman said.
Towards the end of last year, the number of complaints dropped as police patrols prevented the stunt displays from taking place in certain residential areas.
Hundreds of bikes were confiscated and heavy penalties imposed, but since then the number of complaints has increased once more as the dangerous drivers have learnt how to move from place to place and evade the police.
One of the worst spots for the stunt-riding and racing is Al Qawasim Corniche, where families are often woken up late at night by the sound of engines and screeching tyres.
Some reckless drivers even place oil on the road to intentionally skid their vehicles. Serious injuries have been reported as a result of these displays and now parents of female students have become increasingly alarmed because stunt displays have even been seen at the entrances of girls' schools and colleges.
