Schools to warn young people on dangers posed by scrambler bikes

A CAMPAIGN to educate young people on the consequences of the dangerous use of scrambler bikes will be rolled out in schools to tackle an ever increasing problem in the east meath area a recent Joint Policing Committee meeting was told. Legislation is also on the way to give more powers to Gardai in relation to the issue it was confirmed.

The meeting heard from a father whose young son was knocked down and injured after an individual driving a bike ploughed through his front yard. The youngster suffered a number of broken bones.

“We have identified some of the youths involved in that and we spoke to parents of those families so it turns out part of this issue is as well there is an ignorance in relation to giving their children scramblers,” said Sergeant Barry Connor.

"We are going to roll out a school’s programme that is tailored to that as well so we need to get into the schools and educate children on the consequences of driving scramblers and driving dangerously,” he added.

"Those kids are liable to the rules of the road as well. If they are caught with a scrambler on the road, they can be done for no driving licence and no insurance. I don’t think the children have actually got that message through they just think it is an electric bike to go off flying down to the beach. That programme will be rolled out across the whole district although it is primarily a Laytown issue.”

Sergeant Connor has urged member of the public to alert Gardai if they see a scrambler in the area.

"Anytime you see an scrambler please ring 999, we need everybody to ring in so that gives us an idea on where those hotspots are and the Supt can direct the resources to that point."

A law has been passed to stop the dangerous use of scrambler bikes with legislation waiting to be finalised according to Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee who said:

"That legislation was passed over the summer, those articles still have to be commenced so when they are commenced it means that the Gardai will have greater power to take any vehicle that is suspected of or has been driving dangerously but it also means that it can be designated areas so it won’t just be on public roads, it can be on footpaths, in parks, it can be where people go and gardai can’t follow after them."

Meanwhile, the meeting heard that the public is now being urged to call 999 if they require a garda response instead of the local station phone number.

"If you are looking to report a crime, a garda who answers that call will transfer you through to a switch so these people are trained to take calls and know what information to take, said Sergeant Connor. “There is just that little time delay from when you ring the station, so in essence you should just ring 999 and it takes out that step. That call gets logged and that call has to be answered."