“Invisible” electric bikes roam the internal streets and confuse drivers

The increasing use of low-riding electric bicycles by children, known as “drifts,” in internal streets and some main roads has raised concerns among road users, due to the difficulty of monitoring them, as their extreme low speed and speed prevent drivers from seeing them, making them an invisible danger that threatens the occurrence of serious accidents.

Citizens link the spread of riding this type of bicycle to moderate weather and increased leisure time, in addition to the ease of purchasing it through electronic stores or open markets, without clear controls specifying the age group or places of use, which has turned residential neighborhoods into arenas of adventure with uncalculated consequences.

Legal experts stressed that the legal and moral responsibility for these behaviors lies primarily with the family, as it is the body that has the authority to permit or prohibit, warning that enabling children to ride bicycles that are not licensed or not designated for public roads may amount to negligence, especially if it results in exposing the child or others to danger.

In detail, citizens in the Eastern Province expressed their concern about the increasing spread of low-rise electric “draft” bikes in internal and main streets, stressing that their danger lies not only in their speed, but also in the difficulty of being noticed by drivers, which makes them vulnerable to collisions with them, especially at intersections and exits from residential neighborhoods.

Citizen Abdullah Al-Hafiti said that these bikes are driven inside residential neighborhoods and on some main roads, noting that many of their drivers deliberately move at high speeds, or maneuver between vehicles suddenly, which confuses traffic and poses a direct danger to drivers and pedestrians alike, adding that the low level of these bikes makes it impossible to see them, especially at night or when vehicles leave parking lots and homes.

Citizen Reem Ali Al-Naqbi said that the spread of electric drift bikes among children and teenagers is directly related to the moderate weather and the increase in leisure time, which encouraged many to go out to the internal streets to use them as a means of entertainment, away from the direct supervision of the family.

She added that the ease of purchasing this type of bicycle through electronic stores or open markets has contributed to increasing its spread, in the absence of clear controls specifying the appropriate age group for use, or requiring the designation of designated places for it, noting that some families do not realize the danger of allowing the use of these bicycles on public roads, and treat them as a safe toy.

Al-Naqbi explained that this reality has transformed residential neighborhoods into arenas of adventure with uncalculated consequences, as internal streets are now witnessing random races and dangerous maneuvers between vehicles, which doubles the possibility of accidents occurring and threatens the safety of children themselves, in addition to pedestrians and vehicle drivers.

She stressed that the problem is not related to the hobby itself, but rather to its misuse and lack of regulation, calling for intensifying family awareness, to ensure that children are directed to using these bicycles in designated and safe places.

In turn, citizen Saeed Al Yamahi stressed that the continuation of these behaviors reflects an urgent need for practical solutions, beyond repeated warnings, calling for intensifying field monitoring campaigns and tightening procedures against violators, in addition to the role of the family in preventing children from using these bicycles in places other than authorized places.

In addition, legal advisor and lawyer Rashid Al-Hafiti stated that the law does not view these incidents as an “innocent pastime,” but rather as violating behavior that exposes the minor to danger and places his guardian under accountability, pointing out that “weak safety measures in low-speed electric bicycles, and their drivers’ failure to wear helmets or protective equipment, doubles the possibility of serious injuries.”

He added, “Allowing these bicycles to be driven on internal or main roads, despite repeated official warnings, is a violation of the duty of care and protection, which the law imposes on parents and those responsible for caring for the child.”

For her part, educational and legal advisor Moza Masoud confirmed that the age group between 10 and 14 years is the most attracted to this type of bicycle, out of tradition and challenge, stressing that some children view the internal streets as race tracks, in the absence of direct family control.

She pointed out that a number of families are unaware of the seriousness of these behaviors, or tolerate them out of entertainment, calling for strengthening family dialogue and clarifying that traffic laws were established to protect lives, not to restrict fun, stressing that the safe alternative is designated places equipped with safety standards.

Legal advisor and lawyer Asawer Al-Mansouri stressed that the Traffic Law stipulates clear penalties to limit the spread of dangerous behavior, including a fine, seizure, and confiscation of a bicycle when it is seized in unauthorized places.

She explained that driving an unlicensed motorbike, or without a driver’s license authorizing its owner to ride it, is a serious violation, the seriousness of which doubles when driving recklessly or deliberately violating traffic rules, as this poses a direct threat to the lives of the driver and others.

She added that the law prohibits the use of recreational bicycles with three wheels or more on the river and shoulder of the road, and limits their use to sandy areas or areas designated for that, while taking pledges from owners not to use them on public roads.

Lawyer Rashid Al-Hafiti:

. The law does not view “drifting” as a hobby, but rather as behavior that exposes the minor to danger, and subjects his guardian to accountability.

Reem Ali Al Naqbi:

. The spread of drifting among children and teenagers is directly related to moderate weather and increased leisure time.