Children twist the throttle of a motorbike, dangerous accidents due to subjectivity and lack of knowledge

Many tragic accidents caused by children turning the throttle

At the end of May, people in My Thang commune, Phu My district, Binh Dinh province were shocked to witness the tragic death of 3 people in the same family, caused by a 4-year-old child accidentally turning the throttle.

It is worth mentioning that this is not an isolated incident. Previously, many similar accidents have occurred. At the end of August 2022, a woman in Hanoi was in an accident while taking her daughter home from kindergarten on a scooter.

When stopping to buy something, because the mother thought the motorbike had a temporary engine cut-off feature, she accidentally did not turn it off. The girl accidentally grabbed the throttle and turned it hard, causing the motorbike to jump forward, causing both mother and child to fall onto the road. After the accident, the child fainted and was taken to Hospital 198 for first aid, then transferred to the National Children's Hospital.

In early 2022, in Da Nang, there was also an accident between a mother and her child because the child accidentally turned the throttle. Accordingly, the above traffic accident occurred on Trieu Nu Vuong Street, Hai Chau District.

The entire incident was captured on camera by a resident on the side of the road. In the clip, the woman driving the motorbike, carrying a small child in front, was stopped on the road. Suddenly, the child reached out to turn the throttle, causing the motorbike to swerve into the opposite lane, hitting a parked car. The strong collision caused both mother and child to fall onto the road and be injured.

In reality, many families, due to subjectivity or lack of knowledge, let their children sit in front of the motorbike seat, which is potentially dangerous.

Ms. Hoang Thi Lien in Kim Dong district, Hung Yen province said: "I ride a Honda Lead scooter so the footrest is very spacious. My child is 6 years old this year, so I usually let him stand in front of the bike. I think that when he stands in front, it will be safer for me to observe."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh in Tay Ho district (Hanoi) shared that her family is very careful. However, when she lets her child go to the countryside to visit her grandparents, her grandfather often lets her child sit in front of the motorbike and takes her everywhere. Although she knows it is dangerous, because of respect, she is afraid to tell her parents-in-law.

Safe position for children when riding a motorbike. Photo: National Children's Hospital

Experts advise on child safety

Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Do Van Hung - a traffic engineer said that in reality, many habits seem simple but are potentially dangerous.

For example, many parents think that it is safer for their children to sit still in front of a motorbike or on the footrest of a scooter. However, this is a very wrong habit. Because no motorbike is designed with a passenger seat in the front. Moreover, children are often hyperactive and often do not understand what they are doing.

During the ride, children tend to drift to one side. The bike may shake, tilt, or change speed suddenly while the child is sleepy, which can cause the child to fall off the bike. Another dangerous situation that can cause an accident is when the child's legs, pants, or skirt are caught in the spokes of the wheel.

Therefore, to ensure safety, according to Mr. Hung, when carrying a small child, parents should not let their child sit in front. The safest position is behind the adult, with a belt to tightly fasten the child to the carrier's abdomen or place the child in the middle of the adult, holding the child tightly with both hands and not letting the child stick his head out. If the child is 3 years old or older, parents should let the child wear a suitable helmet when going out on the road, at the same time, need to carefully check whether the child's legs are in danger with the wheel or not before moving.

Lawyer Phung Lan - Nam Thai International Law Company Limited said, Clause 1, Article 30, Road Traffic Law 2008 stipulates:

1. Motorbike and motorbike drivers are only allowed to carry one person, except in the following cases, when they are allowed to carry a maximum of two people:

a) Transporting sick people to the emergency room;

b) Escorting people who have violated the law;

c) Children under 14 years old.

Thus, for children under 14 years old, to ensure safety, parents can carry another person behind to look after the child.