POLOKWANE – According to the South African Bureau of Standards, motor quadricycles (four-wheelers) are not allowed to be licensed and may not be used on public roads at all. As four-wheelers can reach speeds of up to 60-80km/h, their handlebar steering is extremely direct and at that speed, on tar, they become difficult and dangerous to control.
Review’s research into the matter stems from complaints from residents in Flora Park about the use of four-wheelers in the area, with some telling Review they have spotted small children on them without safety gear.
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“They really make a noise and it’s more prevalent after hours, over the weekend and during the school holidays. You’ll find them in parks and in the street, it’s a nuisance,” one resident told Review.
Spokesperson, for the Department of Transport, Joel Seabi says four-wheelers were designed for off-road conditions and should not be used on public roads. “Four-wheelers do not comply with the South African National Standards for motor vehicles and can be extremely unsafe on public roads,” he said.
He adds that most four-wheelers are not legally allowed to drive on the road because they don’t meet the strict road safety standards that are required for any motorised vehicle to drive on public highways.
He further explains that quad bikes are a serious safety hazard and that many four-wheel accidents have caused not only serious injuries but death. “The most important rule for quad bikes is that children under the age of 16 should not be allowed to drive or be a passenger on any quad bikes, because the rollovers can be deadly,” he said.
He explains that naturally, if a vehicle is required to be registered, a licence must be paid, once again irrespective of whether the vehicle is to be used on or off the road. “Four-wheelers don’t have the correct equipment for the department to render them roadworthy and their suspension is seldom set up for use on tar surfaces,” he concluded.
