Wheelies In Traffic Constitutes Dangerous Driving
Noting they have received “a number of reports regarding motorcyclists doing wheelies in traffic” and other locations, the police have reminded people that “doing wheelies in traffic or in a public place constitutes dangerous driving.”
A police spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Police Service, [BPS] has been receiving a number of reports regarding motorcyclists doing wheelies in traffic, as well as in locations such as the parking areas at Clearwater Beach and John Smith’s Bay.
“While those involved may see this activity as harmless, it is anything but. Performing these stunts in public spaces poses a threat not only other individuals using these areas, but also to the riders themselves due the increased risk of a collision resulting in serious injury or worse.
“Doing wheelies in traffic or in a public place constitutes dangerous driving. Under the Road Traffic Act 1947, any person who drives a vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place commits an offence that carries an automatic disqualification”.
Photo provided by the police:
Chief Inspector Robert Cardwell of the BPS Tactical Support Division said, “The Bermuda Police Service, [BPS], is also aware of groups of individuals, mainly young males, performing wheelies on pedal cycles whilst riding against the flow of traffic, particularly on main roads.
“We urge parents and guardians to speak with their children about the dangers of this activity and advise them against it.
“As for motorists, if you are operating a vehicle and find yourself faced with an individual or group of individuals doing wheelies on a motorcycle or pedal bike, approaching you on your side of the road, please come to a safe and complete stop and allow them to go by.”
“Members of the public are asked to assist the BPS in dealing with this dangerous practice by reporting any such incidents. You may do so by calling the 211 number or, the main police number, 295-0011.”
It’s a special kind of person that doesn’t realise this without public announcements.
“Doing wheelies in traffic or in a public place constitutes dangerous driving. Under the Road Traffic Act 1947, any person who drives a vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place commits an offence that carries an automatic disqualification.”
Now there is efficiency. No more trials in the Magistrates Court to determine guilt or innocence. Now the police do it all! The police have determined that “Doing wheelies in traffic or in a public place constitutes dangerous driving”. No excuses.
I personally like seeing people doing wheelies when it’s safe to do so. Always tried but could never pull up myself lol.
Like the totally empty parking lot at Clearwater which is flat with excellent visibility all around; how is that considered unsafe to anyone but the rider? Surely it’s better to allow this cultural activity up there instead of forcing it to go underground eg onto back roads with limited visibility.
So now we can’t safely park our cars at Clearwater because lamebrains think they should be able to pursue their “cultural activity”, which is riding like i d iots?
In all the years that guys have been wheelying at Southside, not once has anyone or any vehicle been hit. Inthe statistics on deaths and accidents, wheelies is not a category, but drunk driving is and I would bet my bottom dollar 90 % of those pointing fingers at people doing wheelies, drink and drive and use cell phones when driving. Wheelying into oncoming traffic, plain stupid and dangerous, young people doing in a large open area is safe.
You missed the ‘totally empty’ part of my comment. Maybe if they closed that useless lot to cars that would make you feel better. There is plenty of parking elsewhere up at Clearwater (never mind the no parking signs along the grass, nobody obeys them and nobody enforces it anyway).
I remember back when the Ag Show brought in a motorcycle stunt group as the main exhibit. Would you call those professionals lamebrains and idiots for the wheelies they did back and forth, only feet from spectators? Or is your opinion on wheelies only reserved for locals.
This is so stupid and disrespectful of other road users safety it’s almost impossible to wrap one’s head around it even happening in the first place.
But even harder to believe is that there’s people who see nothing wrong with it and they believe it’s actually skillful !
If you travel between SAL and whitehill you will see more than just a wheelie on an unlicensed motorcross bike. 7pm 9 pm even 2 am in the morn hearing this goon race up and down. The guy is going to either kill himself or kill someone and for what???
I have a relative who lives along that stretch and a few years ago they talked about some lunatic on a very loud scrambler racing up and back at 7-8am
I thought they were making it up as it was just too blatant to get away with repeatedly.
Is it still going on ?
“If you travel between SAL and whitehill …”
And if you live east of White Hill your opinion doesn’t matter!
There is this guy that scrambles and does wheelies sometimes early mornings and sometimes late at night, on Horseshoe road. I truly think he will hit someone one day or kill himself. It is so annoying!
I feel sorry for anyone that may have baby. Or trying to get rest.
In traffic, wheelies certainly pose a danger to the public, and so, those individuals should be ‘dealt with’ accordingly (ie. fined, disqualified or both) imo.
However, in a public space, with no one around, wheelies are absolutely *not* a danger to the general public.
As far as it being dangerous for the person performing the wheelie, there are many other socially acceptable activities that people engage in that can be considered dangerous, and, so long as they aren’t placing anybody else’s well-being (or property) in jeopardy, they should be left alone imo.
Any officer who cites an individual for dangerous driving because they were popping wheelies at the old go-kart track (at Southside near Clearwater Beach, or any public area for that matter) with no one from the general public in the vicinity, is doing more harm than good.
(much like when the Police pull people over for not coming to a complete stop when coming down King St, coming down Strawberry Hill or coming up past the West side of Victoria Park, when both you and the police can see that no one else is around for a hundred miles, but I digress)
I think it would be nice if there was at least one location where the youth, who like to wheelie, and there are many, could go and practice (the old go-kart track would be perfect), without being occasionally hassled by the public.
(And it is mostly the public, so far as I can tell. I’ve never seen those popping wheelies being hassled by the Police but I have seen the Police drive by them at the old go-kart track. It is greatly appreciated. They seem to appreciate the difference between the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. They presumably also have bigger fish to fry. Or maybe they don’t want to take one of the few enjoyable activities in Bermuda that the youth like to engage in away from them.
I think that, because we see the relative few who wheelie dangerously in traffic, (I’ve never seen it) the general public, unfortunately, is inclined to associate all wheelies, wherever and whenever, to be a sign of foolish and antisocial behaviour.
Why slow down and stop? To give right of way? Make sure your seat belt is tight and airbags are present! A terrorist is only enabled when you give in.
When will we start seeing the courts dealing Justice on this and other issues as a deterrent? Getting sick of the direction this Island is going.
Still waiting for the Police to enforce the law with regard to electric pedal cycles, electric scooters, and electric skate boards. What about these users wearing helmets, too.
Age does not seem to be a factor. I saw a man who looked to be in his 50′s doing a wheely in Hamilton.
I almost came to grief when a boy lost control. He managed to stay on his feet. But, the bicycle continued on to my side of the road stopping just in front of my car.