Danger concern prompts quad bike plan

A new off-road vehicle strategy is being planned after increased community concern over dangerous driving of quad bikes in Roebourne and Wickham.

The strategy is being put together by Roebourne police and Shire of Roebourne, particularly with input from the local government's rangers.

Roebourne police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Les Andrews said his officers had responded to more than 25 complaints about youths riding quad bikes in a dangerous way in the town.

"My concern is mostly centred on the safety of the children, as a majority of the reports indicate that up to four youths are actually on the one quad bike, with none of the children wearing helmets," he said.

Roebourne BP Roadhouse caretaker Don Clifton said children were riding through the site two or three times a day, between their front door and the petrol bowsers.

"They're getting out on the road out here and going across and back and getting out in our truck way and doing wheelies, they're just young kids and there are trucks coming past with triple trailers … and these kids are just darting in front of them," he said.

Sen. Sgt Andrews said he had been in discussion with the Shire rangers' office which said the group had been receiving at least one complaint a week and were also frustrated.

Rangers and police don't give chase when children are riding the bikes.

However, Sen. Sgt Andrews said they had been gathering intelligence on who was riding the vehicles and some of the information received resulted in youths being charged with Road Traffic Act offences, as well as having their bikes impounded. "I have absolutely no issue with my officers utilising all available legislation to drive home the concerns we have for the children," he said.

"If it means infringing the parents and seizing more vehicles to reduce their accessibility then so be it.

"I would rather this than the foreseeable consequence of serious harm to one or more of our kids for the message to be finally understood."

Shire regulatory services manager Craig Watts said the use of quad and trail bikes in non-designated areas was a continuing issue across the locality.