§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase safety measures for the use of all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles; and if he will make a statement. [171766]
§ Angela SmithThere are no plans to increase safety measures for the use of all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles.
These vehicles are primarily intended for off-road use, particularly for agricultural/forestry purposes or leisure use. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides advice on the safe use of these vehicles, sometimes known as quad bikes or all-terrain cycles, for example on such issues as training, protective clothing and equipment, maintenance and safe driving methods. Free leaflets can be downloaded from the HSE website: www.hse.gov.uk.
The design and construction of these vehicles do not normally meet the requirements for unrestricted road use unless they are modified to comply with regulations on construction, use and lighting. Moreover, for such vehicles to be licensed for unrestricted road use they must also comply with the requirements of the EC Directive (92/61/EC) on type approval for motorcycles.
Drivers of these vehicles, when on a road, are required to hold an appropriate driving licence and have minimum third-party insurance.