To get a scooter/moped for DD when she turns 16?

[kirktonhouse]

Just that really, did you/would you allow it?

YABU - would not
YANBU - would buy one

My dp had one, he now has a 1100cc motorcycle. It's a slippery slope

Had one for 2 years when lived in a big town/city, loved it but wouldn't dare contemplate it with rural living.

Ps we don't go out on it with proper jacket with back protector, kevlar trousers, boots and helmets are racing grade aka expensive. Even when I'm roasting!

I've been riding a bike for 29 years and never had an accident. Same for my DH and many other biker friends.

If she is sensible and aware aI'd say go for it. As others have said, protective gear every time is a must m, and don't go for the cheapest. With bike gear you do get what you pay for, particularly with helmets.

If she is not up for full protective gear then don't do it. Even a low speed off can cause devastating injuries if you're not wearing the right gear. If you want to press this point there are plenty of you tube videos of riders with "road rash".

If you are aware of everything around you and paying attention at all times, there is no feeling like it - and you don't have to go at breakneck speeds to have fun.

Buy her an Ebike, she can ride off road then.

I absolutely will not be doing this. To my horror my husband let his son have one at 16. Our youngest two will not be getting one! They go dangerously slowly so that cars have to squeeze by them in narrow roads, there's no protection if you fall off them and they're a terrible thing to learn about being in traffic. I had one and I came off it on an icy road once and again when I hit a kerb. Wait until she's 17 and old enough to drive a car.

I wouldn't as it seems too dangerous. I remember wanting a motorbike 17 and my parents being very unhappy about it. I expect that is why I got a cheap little car for my 18th. I was very grateful for it btw in case it sounded moany.

agree with pp

No. I worked with a lovely 16yo lad who got knocked off his moped and killed just before his GCSEs. Too dangerous as teens don't have a well developed risk judgment and you are so exposed on a moped to all the dangers on the road with scant protection.

I spent time in hospital a couple of years ago, and one of the nurses there said that anyone who wants to get a bike of any kind should be made to spend a week in ICU first. Off the top of my head, the first time I went in, that same night an (experienced) biker was brought in. He was brain damaged to the point he would never again live a normal life.

The second time there were 4 bikers in total who came in over the course of the nearly two weeks I was in there (talking about ICU here) all of them bar one were declared brain dead and had their life support turned off.

It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, the people around you might not be, and you simply don’t have the kind of protection on a motorbike that you do in a car.

A large number of organ donations come from motorcyclists.

No. It’s only a short while until she can drive. Spend the year giving her lifts and paying for taxis and compromising on how often/ when she goes out. By the time you buy all the “stuff” you’d be cheaper doing taxi’s, and lifts surely?
A car is so much safer for the occupants. At least on a push-bike you can get some exercise, pull off into gateways, etc.

I witnessed an accident at 14, involving a big BMW motorbike, a moped, and queue of cars. You might not want to read on if you’ve lost a loved one to RTA.

Motorbike came over a blind summit, going too fast given that there were cars queuing to turn right. Biker slammed into car at back of queue, debris hit moped on opposite carriageway.

Moped driver had no chance, and died.

Bike driver survived (at least until air ambulance arrived, not sure what happened after).

Car driver and passenger survived, but the two children in the back seat both died; one pretty instantly, but the littler one was conscious for a while.

There’s an assumption that bikes can avoid trouble by being nimble, and “always come off worse anyway”. It’s just not the case.

Hell would freeze over before my kids were allowed mopeds/motorbikes. They are death traps. My lovely Dad has suffered lifelong injuries after being knocked off his bike.

It depends. Is she generally sensible? Does she have mates keen to get mopeds too?
I have seen too many groups of teens on mopeds cause havoc on the roads, pull wheelies, go through red lights etc. One youngster in my area was often seen bombing through red lights. He got killed doing just that.
A moped can be a great and cheap mode of transport if you are sensible. But you pretty much have to assume all other road users are out to get you. And always insist on proper clothing too!
My parents suggested I get a moped at 19 as a way to get to uni. I ended up upgrading to proper motorbikes and didn't even drive a car until my 30s.

I lived rurally and desperately wanted one but my parents wouldn’t let me. Waited until I was 17, got a car and passed my tests within a few weeks of my birthday.

I’m glad now my parents didn’t let me, I’ve had so many friends have nasty crashes on motorbikes, one died and he was a very experienced biker, totally not his fault.

For the sake of another year, I’d make her wait until she can get a car. If she did have an accident on a bike it is very likely that she’s going to be seriously hurt.

It seems way too dangerous to me. I’d rather drive my teenagers where they want to go.

Why would you do that? you wouldn't be cool mum of the year. Stupid idea.

Not in a million years.

My 37 year old boyfriend with loads of experience came of his bike last June, suffered 6 broken ribs, punctured lung and neck injury.

I'll never, ever forget his friends running towards the house to tell me and me walking back to the house carrying his boots.

Your son might be responsible but you can't say that for every driver.

Not a chance in hell.

My brothers an anaesthetist, told him I wanted one, he said I've seen too many people in theatre after being knocked off their moped/ scooter I absolutely don't want you to, please get a car ... so I did get a car - since then two friends have had life changing crashes and another person died on bikes

My DS started working in a place hard to get to (almost impossible) on public transport, before he passed his test. He could've cycled etc, but over my dead body would I let him do that, so I took/picked up every day till he passed his test.

The rural roads (country lanes) are driven on by mad people on a death wish. DO NOT LET HER HAVE A BIKE!!

No absolutely not. I had a moped at 16 to get to work but it was limuted at that age to 30mph (I assume still now?) So not at all safe on the roads between the towns.

Also other drivers.

I had rubbish parents all round to be fair. But noway would I be happy my child having one.

Mopeds/motorbikes - 1% of vehicles on the road and 27% of RTC casualties. Fuck no.

Wow that's a sobering statistic.

I had one when I was 17. I didnt like the bus late at night as there were lots of drunks, antisocial behaviour and violence. Being able to get myself around opened up a job opportunity for me (only at the local tesco superstore but I finished at midnight on a Saturday. But within the first year I was knocked off by a car. It was the daytime, light outside by no glare, no wet floor or ice, I'd been to a job interview and was driving carefully. I was turning left (I was probably going a bit slower than the speed limit as it was uphill and my scooter was only a 50cc,) just after I turned left there was another side road, a driver didn't look properly and pulled out the side road into me, knocked me off, fractured my arm, cut up my face a bit (half face helmet) and just shook me up alot, thankfully neither of us were going very fast.
His insurance paid out and first thing I did was get a car. And in 8 years of driving I've never had an accident.
I always wore a high vis and my scooter was bright pink.
She could be the safest driver in the world, but there are and always will be dickheads on the road.
I never weaved through traffic, overtook, sped (all almost impossible when my top speed was 35mph downhill) and was a safe as I could be, accidents still happen.

Very difficult one. I agree that they are horrendously dangerous but bicycles aren’t great either and offer less protection. Your child clearly needs a form of transportation as well. I wish I had some sensible advice- all I can say is get them to watch lots of safety videos about riding scooters and see how they feel after.