Young motorbike passenger sparks warning

Police say anyone carrying a child as a passenger should drive with due care. Supplied photo.

A young child spotted as a passenger on the back of a motorbike has sparked a safety reminder to riders in the Bay of Plenty.

The child was spotted by another motorist, who wishes not to be named, over the weekend.

He says the child, who looked ‘no older than a toddler', was accompanied by an adult on the back of a motorcycle.

'I had my four-year-old with me in the car at the time and I don't think the kid on the back of the bike would have been much older than him, if not the same age.

'We followed them for around 15 minutes and in that time the driver of the motorcycle was weaving in and out of traffic at speed.”

He says they followed the rider to Te Puna marae.

'That poor kid was hanging on, there were no back rests or anything. His helmet was way too big.”

A police media spokesperson says the incident highlights a need to remember safety when carrying younger passengers.

'Anyone carrying a child as a passenger should drive with due care.

'It is legal for a child to be a passenger on a motorcycle, provided the child is sitting astride a safe pillion seat, facing forwards, and has both feet on footrests. They must also wear an approved safety helmet.”

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11 comments

great

Posted on 14-12-2017 09:37 | By dumbkof2

but officer, the rules dont apply to me


probably a lot less risk for the kid

Posted on 14-12-2017 10:42 | By Mein Fuhrer

than getting the scheduled forced vaccines from the medical authorities.


Cops say what?!

Posted on 14-12-2017 11:05 | By maildrop

Surely everyone should drive with due care at all times? Regardless of whether you have a passenger, how old they are, or what you're driving?? Or am I missing something?


So....

Posted on 14-12-2017 12:37 | By Christine1965

Have the Police spoken to this idiot??


What about Protective Gear

Posted on 14-12-2017 12:51 | By Road Ranger

No protective clothing or proper shoes - This is an accident waiting to happen. He maybe a good bike rider but it's the other people you have to watch out for that don't see motorcyclists. Glad to see they made it home safely. Come on parents look after your kids.


Agree maildrop...

Posted on 14-12-2017 14:06 | By GreertonBoy

I used to carry a young bloke on my bike, but had him in front of me.... probably worse... but then again, he had a blast and I rode so carefully I nearly made myself sick. On the rifer in this story's behalf, I am sure he wouldn't be carrying a child who was not used to riding behind him like that, the boy is wearing the appropriate helmet and hanging on and the rider is riding accordingly it appears. I bet the rider would have been between cars at the front of the cue if he didn't have his little passenger. I say stop whining and leave the rider alone unless he were riding like a nut job or something. To the photo dobber, get a life. I bet your young'un would have loved to trade places with the kid on the bike.


clown

Posted on 14-12-2017 15:20 | By carma g

what an idiot .even worse is that they are both dressed in sshorts and singlet...stop and think .maybe have child in front so u are shielding them.. we have had enough death on our roads out here ..don't be the next or if u insist at least leave the kids at home


And?...

Posted on 14-12-2017 17:09 | By freedomkiwis

what ARE the rules then dumbkof2? I don't think I've seen any as relate to the age of a pillian passenger on a motorbike.I don't believe it's safe to have a very young child on there, but I also don't recall seeing any specific rules around such either.


freedom kiwis

Posted on 14-12-2017 18:29 | By dumbkof2

i didnt say he broke any rules. i just said but officer the rules dont apply to me


It's not about rules

Posted on 15-12-2017 07:29 | By Christine1965

....its about common sense and looking after our kids. This is stupidity at its finest. I bet if the child fell off and was killed the rider would be looking to blame someone else.


Good parenting

Posted on 22-12-2017 12:22 | By jonthejoiner

Is about balancing risk with reward, I used to have my lad on the back of my bike from time to time, but he was given the correct equipment in case the trip turned to custard.Even then as any biker knows, the pillion will always come of worse, this is where you balance your kids getting everything out of life they possibly can against wrapping them up in cotton wool.Bottom line is that if that kid had come with the level of protection he was given then he would basically been turned into minced beef.But I have a suspicion that this guys imagination for that scenario was probably limited.


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