The local taffic department set its foot down to combat the illegal quad bike driving in the streets of the town.

On Friday (17th) at around 09:30, a young school boy was ordered by the Traffic Department to get off his quad bike on the corner of Stubbs and Krogh Street. Onlookers soon gathered at the scene. The boy was allegedly on his way to refuel the tank of the quad bike.

Mr Jan Zitha, new head of the municipal Traffic Department, confirmed the incident this week. The driver was not licensed and a summons was issued to the owner, the father of the driver. Zitha said that the fine for the lack of a licence was R1 000 and another R1 500 fine for the owner for permitting the boy to drive.

The action by the traffic department is not solely aimed against quad bike drivers but against "all those who break the law," Zitha said. He said that the quad bikes are not licensed and should not be operating on a public road.

Recently, the situation arose that residents apparently got so fed up with the noise and racing of the quad bikers in the town’s streets that dangerous metal spikes were set as traps for the quad bike wheels.

According to the Zoutpansberger of October 27 "many believe the lack of policing and visible action from especially the municipal traffic department is the reason for the escalating problem…"

More than a year ago, the traffic department of Makhado Municipality warned that quad bike drivers would be prosecuted for driving on public roads with an unroadworthy vehicle or driving without a license. No quad bike can be registered as roadworthy, states an article on the website www.motoring.co.za.

Neurosurgeons warn that children riding all-terrain vehicles (quad bikes) are in danger of suffering disabling or even fatal head injuries. According to a study reported in a journal of neurosurgery issued in July this year, in 185 quad bike accidents, 62 suffered at least one neurological injury, including 37 skull fractures, 39 cases of bleeding in the brain, and 11 spinal fractures. Two-thirds of the patients required in-patient rehabilitation treatment, while two died of their injuries.

All in all, from the legal viewpoint, the danger viewpoint and the citizens’ desiring some peace and rest on Sunday afternoons, it can be gathered that the campaign of the traffic department will be widely supported.

"When a quad bike is caught on the public road, the quad bike will be either impounded or it must be transported by another vehicle, like a bakkie. We don’t allow it to drive any further," Mr Zitha said.