Gardai in Cork have issued an urgent reminder to parents and guardians of their basic responsibilities after a 16-year-old was caught driving a high-powered BMW on a busy road.
The warning to parents follows the stopping of a 16-year-old on a public road in the Kinsale area, who may have faced some awkward questions on his return home, given that the car was immediately seized by Gardai and towed away. In Ireland, you cannot legally drive a car on the road until after your 17th birthday – and even then, Gardai will expect you to have the basics, such as a learner permit and insurance, as well as the presence of a driver with a full licence in the car with you.
The incident happened yesterday, with Gardai posting to social media to say: “Earlier today, Gardaí on patrol in Kinsale stopped this vehicle.
The driver, aged 16, was found to have:
No driving licenceNo insurance
The vehicle was subsequently seized.
Gardai added: “Parents and guardians are reminded of their responsibilities. Allowing an unlicensed or uninsured driver on the road puts lives at risk and will result in serious consequences.
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
Gardai have become increasingly concerned at the number of young teens and children using various modes of motorised transport on Cork Roads. In February, CorkBeo reported on a bunch of young teens who were seen travelling at speed on the South Ring Road, popping wheelies on powerful E-motorbike.
In Kerry earlier in the week, Gardai again had to issue warnings to parents about the dangers of letting kids on the road on e-scooters and e-bikes – many of which have been ‘speed hacked’ to allow them to go up to 100kmh.
There have been several fatalities in Waterford, Kilkenny and elswhere in Ireland recently involving kids on motorised transport on our roads.