A new video shared on social media shows a group of reckless riders videoing themselves and popping wheelies in near-peak traffic on Cork’s busiest road. A group of four youths can be seen speeding down the N40 near Douglas on high-powered electric bikes or ‘e-scramblers’, just a few feet from fast-moving traffic, as shocked drivers look on.
The video was recorded along the South Ring near the Vernon Mount Bridge, where the speed limit is 100km/h, and cars routinely switch lanes to turn off onto the Kinsale Road Roundabout. The video shows the bikes keeping pace with traffic while the riders wear little to no protective gear.
At one point in the video, one of the riders can be seen popping a wheelie while another teenager at the front of the group films them, paying no attention to the road ahead. The same group was later spotted driving through Douglas in a similar manner.
It comes less than two weeks after the Government announced a new crackdown on scramblers following the tragic death of Grace Lynch in Dublin last month. The 16-year-old was struck by a scrambler while crossing the road in Finglas and was later pronounced dead in hospital.
One of the riders popping a wheelie near fast moving traffic
Councillor Peter Horgan, who chairs the council’s Transport Committee, condemned this dangerous behaviour. The Labour councillor said that local Gardaí have enough to deal with without having to intervene in ‘nonsense like this’ that endangers the lives of both the riders and other road users.
He told CorkBeo: “This is a shocking and dangerous act. It reminds me of that Simpsons clip where they use the phrase, ‘filming this crime spree is the best idea we ever had.’
“It is outrageous that these individuals thought it was clever and funny to do this on the N40 or anywhere. I understand they were also doing similar moves on South Douglas Road and in the village. Our frontline Gardaí are already stretched to their limit without having to handle nonsense like this that could cause a serious crash and loss of life.
“It does, however, point to the fact that the recent legislative moves by the Government look piecemeal when the answer to combating these dunderheads putting their lives and others at risk is more resources to suburban Gardaí in the Douglas and Blackrock area, so they can seize these machines.
“The legislation allows that without a warrant currently. If we want to tackle this issue, we need to dedicate Gardaí to removing the vehicles from ownership.”
CorkBeo has reached out to Gardaí for comment, and a spokesperson confirmed that officers were alerted to incidents of dangerous driving that occurred in the Douglas area yesterday. Gardaí are now making local enquiries.
Earlier this month, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien confirmed that the Government is working on new regulations to implement a total ban on scrambler use in public places and to strengthen An Garda Síochána’s existing enforcement powers.
The proposal aims to close gaps in the legislation where scrambler use may previously have been legal outside appropriate off-road settings, and to enhance seizure powers to reduce the number of seized vehicles that end up back on the roads. The Government aims to bring the new proposals to Cabinet in the coming weeks.
Commenting on the new proposal earlier this month, Minister O’Brien said: “These new regulations will help to bring additional legal clarity to the existing position that scramblers are banned for use on the road in almost all cases. We owe it to Grace Lynch, her family and her friends to introduce regulations to further restrict the inappropriate use of scramblers in public places as a matter of urgency.
“We call on all scrambler users to obey the laws that are designed to ensure the safety of everyone. We ask family members to speak with those in their lives who may ride scramblers illegally. Using off-road scramblers on roads is already illegal, and Gardaí have the necessary enforcement powers to intervene based on existing legislation.”
Video courtesy of Ed Power. If you’re out and about in Cork and see this sort of behaviour, get in touch with us on X, Bluesky and Facebook or via email at news@corkbeo.ie.
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