Safe Speed Forums

I've just spotted this on the BBC News site.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7232286.stm


Police quad squad in hot pursuit

Police said quad bikes should be treated as motor vehicles
The police are to start using quad bikes in an attempt to catch youths who evade officers while on scramblers.
The PSNI is training members on the all terrain vehicles to deal with illegal motorbike riders who are causing damage to property in the Newtownabbey area.

Several officers are using rough terrain in the Magilligan area of County Londonderry in preparation for their new duties.

They are to take part in a pilot scheme aimed at tackling illegal quad use.

Chief Inspector John McCaughan of Newtownabbey District Command Unit addressed the issue at a recent DPP meeting.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: "Police officers who have been sent to Valley Park after complaints from members of the public are obviously unable to tackle the culprits in normal vehicles.

"The deployment of officers on all terrain vehicles - or quad bikes - will therefore give us a better chance of dealing with the issue."

High visibility patrols by officers on quads are planned as part of the pilot scheme for the Newtownabbey area, said the PSNI.

"The pilot scheme will give us an opportunity to ensure those using quad bikes are doing so safely, responsibly and within the law," said a police spokesman.

"They are not toys, and although many may have been purchased as presents, they should be treated as motor vehicles, and the wearing of suitable safety equipment such as helmets is highly recommended."

Alison Bennington, parks manager for Newtownabbey, told BBC News: "We have young families appearing, with fathers bringing their children across to various parks within the borough.

"They bring their quad bikes in vans and are riding them through open spaces.

"They are also riding them on roads near shopping centres.

"They are coming into our parks and open spaces and they are tearing them apart."

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Anyone who tells you that nothing is impossible has never bathed in a saucer of water.

Good idea.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

They say that like it's a bad thing?

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Andrew.

Yes, it is. I have to agree.

There were a bunch of damned idiots who brought quad bikes in vans and decided to use a AONB to drive their quad bikes on.

It had previously been used for generations by local people to walk their dogs, go for nature walks, ride horses, and so on.

Within a couple of weeks the chavs with the quad bikes and minimotos had totally the area up. They had chopped down trees, grubbed out ancient hedgerows, and cleared parts of it by burning.

Result? Utterly spoiled and ruined.

The police did nothing. It turned out that one of the people involved was a good mate of a leading Labour Councillor, so a blind eye was turned to the wrecking of this previously wonderful piece of land.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Must be a british thing. "People are enjoying themselves! We must restrict, we must restrict, we must restrict!"
I'll be glad when I get out of here.

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Andrew.

But there are ways to enjoy yourself. Without destroying the peaceful enjoyment of other people. There's plenty of places for off roading in our locality. Sadly the chavs who wrecked the woodlands did not want to pay so they took something and destroyed it.

And if you think other countries would allow this stuff to go on, the police who protect parklands in the USA are armed. And have their own SWAT teams.

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www.thatsnews.org.uk / www.thatsnews.blogspot.com / http://thatsmotoring.blogspot.com/

Sorry, but if thats your attitude, I'll be glad when you get out of here.
What is a bit of enjoyment or a laugh to one person may be the bain of another's life. There's an appropriate time and place for everything.

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

But the article said they were riding them in "open spaces", not that they were riding them dangerously or running over dogs or anything.

There are very few open spaces left. The ones there are you can't get to. Every entrance to every forest, woods, heath, etc. around here is barricaded by a locked gate, boulders, a huge dead tree or similar.

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Andrew.

It states that they were being ridden illegally, in what way is not exactly clear but this could include no license or insurance and riding them on public roads to gain access to the area.
It suggests that they are being ridden inconsiderately and in way which is damaging the property in question.
With all of that in mind I'd be very surprised if they were actually being ridden 'safely', not that it would matter with all the other problems apparently being caused.

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

Big fanfare and lots of pictures of Police riders on off road(scrambler type ) motorbikes some time ago in local paper - aim -to catch the off road menace ( as the same paper put it )---that was last time they were heard off .Certainly haven't seen any headlines about stopping the problem so perhaps some obscure bit of HSE has put paid to that .Or as more likely - this sort of thing has become a low priority incident now ,so the bikes have been put in cold storage.(To many other things to worry about ,and not enough police to go round )

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Next is to 'have a go' at motor racing circuits, motocross venues and speedway stadiums as these come under the definition of 'open spaces'.

Whilst we're at it, what about horse racing? Surely, the intrusion of thousands of racegoers prevents walkers enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside?

Oh for crying out loud....

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

Irony detector on strike then Rigpig?

It fine present - but like the go-kart.. und any other toy like this.. you should be riding on track built for purpose und not on road which led to the tragedy of that little girl at Christmas.


These different to bicycle und horse. With the bicycle - we make sure our kids have been Bikeability tested und not unsupervised until we happy that they have the maturity und the skills. Likewise with the horses. They do ride. We all do. Ist pleasant und horses .. they are such pleasant animals. But you still have to have skills.. be proficient.. und you do not let child out unsupervisd und if you know animal prone to alarm .. you also very careful.

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Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

Sorry, but I saw no irony.
What was your point?

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.