Hemsworth Quad Bike Crash Victims Were 'celebrating Birthday'

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-34378300

If I have read this correctly, the 4 people that were killed were all on a quad bike.

Never having ridden a quad bike before, is it possible or even legal for 4 people to ride on one quad bike, and what is the position regarding helmets?

[andy-hughes]

They are designed for one person to ride - anyone else attempting to ride is asking for trouble, there is nowhere to sit, and nothing stable to hold onto.

Tragic.

[ummmm]

Andy - Some are designed for two people. My cousin used to have one. I don't think helmets are compulsory but could be wrong.

[Baldric]

Helmets

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10847375

[Baldric]

Passengers

A quad bike can only carry passengers if it is designed to do so and has the right number of seats. Check with the manufacturer if you’re not sure.

https://www.gov.uk/quad-bikes-the-rules

[andy-hughes]

Baldric - //A quad bike can only carry passengers if it is designed to do so and has the right number of seats. Check with the manufacturer if you’re not sure.//

I think a cursory look at the machine would do the trick - how many seats has it got? That's the number of people who can ride it then.

[andy-hughes]

Helmets - chance of a skull / tarmac interface at anything upwards of five miles an hour = common sense.

Doesn't it?

[Baldric]

Maybe you should point that out to "www.gov.uk" Andy,
their words not mine

[andy-hughes]

Baldric - //Maybe you should point that out to "www.gov.uk" Andy,
their words not mine //

A fair point - but it seems they think it unnecessary.

I am always intrigued by the logic applied by the young rider that - if close to home, he doesn't wear a helmet.

This implies that the force of a collision and the attendant injuries suffered are directly proportional to the distance from home when the accident occurs!

I don't think gravity is aware of such distinctions!

[Mamyalynne]

Four young people celebrating a Birthday - I doubt rules or laws even entered their minds.

Terribly sad.

[andy-hughes]

Sadly, young minds possibly clouded by alcohol, do not make good decisions regarding safety - they tend to be submerged beneath concepts of having a laugh and so on.

What a dreadful end to a celebration.

[ToraToraTora]

2 max no lids necessary by law but advisable.

[New Judge]

"I am always intrigued by the logic applied by the young rider that - if close to home, he doesn't wear a helmet."

I have encountered the same "logic" with seat belts, Andy. "If I'm only popping down to Tescos I don't bother with the belt"

Priceless!

As far as this incident goes, it seems the four were riding home from the pub (or wherever) in the dark (half past midnight) with no lights on an unregistered machine (and almost certainly uninsured). It may have been that the car driver was tanking it a bit, for which there is no excuse. Yes it was a birthday ("Four young people celebrating a Birthday - I doubt rules or laws even entered their minds.") but I celebrated plenty of birthdays (both mine and other people's) and the last thing we would have considered is bombing down a country lane in the dark on a quad bike.

Four young lives have been lost and that's tragic. But the four themselves must shoulder most of the blame. And don't forget the driver who hit this unlit, unregistered, uninsured, overloaded bike (which was probably being driven by an unlicensed and incompetent driver) is now facing an offence which carries a maximum sentence of fourteen years custody.

[Retrochic]

http://previews.123rf.com/images/mexitographer/mexitographer1503/mexitographer150300072/38379117-Four-people-having-fun-riding-a-quad-at-sunset--Stock-Photo.jpg

this is how you get four on a quad -have seen it loads of times in Canada kids having fun off road -totally illegal and totally dangerous -but tell that to 4 teenagers at midnight with a few bevvies in them -what a waste of life their parents must be devastated.

[Retrochic]

No where can I see in the report that the Quad had no lights - we have lights on our quad front, back and brake lights.

[New Judge]

We'll just leave it at "...unregistered, uninsured, overloaded bike (which was probably being driven by an unlicensed and incompetent driver)" then. Oh, and I forgot to add "with occupants who it seems were wearing no protective clothing".

[Mamyalynne]

My remark("Four young people celebrating a Birthday - I doubt rules or laws even entered their minds.") was not to indicate their behaviour was right - just stating a truth.


I did stupid things , I didn't perish ( obviously) - they did something stupid and it cost them their lives.

We can discuss the law, helmets,lights,speed,drink (possibly)but it won't change what has occurred.

Tragic though that is.