Almost one in four of those injured in incidents involving quad bikes or scramblers, in the period 2017 to 2021, were aged 18 or under, according to provisional statistics released by the RSA.
Casualty figures show that between 2017 and 2021, 88 people were injured in collisions involving a quad bike or scrambler on a public road.
In the same period there were four fatalities involving quad bikes or scramblers on public roads.
The RSA and An Garda Síochána are now once again urging parents not to gift their children a quad bike or scrambler this Christmas.
Keith Synnott, a consultant at the national spinal injuries Unit in the Mater Hospital, who is the voice of an RSA / Garda radio campaign on the topic, says quad bikes and scramblers are not toys.
“They are heavy, dangerous pieces of machinery that can cause life changing injuries or death.
“Following a collision on these machines, riders risk serious spinal injury. This could result in paralysis, which can mean being unable to walk or perhaps use your hands to feed yourself and loss of bowel or bladder control.
“Sometimes, even the inability to breath without the aid of a machine.”
Sam Waide, RSA chief executive added: “It is currently an offence to use E-scooters on the public road and they are high risk in the hands of children. If you are planning on purchasing a quad bike, scrambler, or e-scooter for a child this Christmas, we are urging you to reconsider and give safer gifts.”
