British holidaymakers who rent mopeds or quad bikes abroad are risking death or life-changing injuries, ABTA has warned.
The travel association has launched a campaign advising travellers to think twice before hiring mopeds whilst overseas, and to ride quad bikes only as part of an organised excursion.
Last week 19-year-old Kieran Roche from Swindon died after a quad biking accident at the resort of Malia on Crete.
Three other British holidaymakers, all women, were severely injured last month in quad bike accidents on another Greek island, Zante.
Melanie Simmonds, now 32, suffered serious injuries in a quad bike accident in Greece in 2010, and underwent a series of operations over 14 months.
She said: “The reason that we hired the quad bike was to save money on taxis. One snap decision completely transformed my life.
“Quad bikes are heavy, dangerous and difficult to control.”
Since December 2017, four British travellers have been killed or maimed as a result of moped crashes in Thailand.
ABTA estimates that one in 10 British holidaymakers hires a moped or quad bike whilst overseas – a total of 4.5 million. For UK travellers between 18 and 24, the figure is one in seven.
In recent years, quad bikes have become increasingly popular in Turkey and on the Greek islands, while hiring mopeds is now common among British travellers to Thailand and Vietnam.
“Whether in Europe or further afield, these vehicles give little protection in an accident, and riders are particularly vulnerable on the open roads,” says ABTA.
“There are always safer alternatives to hiring mopeds and quad bikes, including hiring a car, taking a taxi or using public transport.” It is also reminding holidaymakers of the limitations of travel insurance. Many standard policies do not cover quad bike and moped accidents, leaving seriously injured holidaymakers facing unaffordable medical bills.
Nikki White, the association’s director of destinations and sustainability, said: “Every year people suffer serious injuries after hiring mopeds or quad bikes while on holiday.
“Many have little experience of using these vehicles and are also unfamiliar with the local roads and driving standards.”
Sir David Spiegelhalter, professor of the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge, calculates that motorcycles are far more dangerous than bicycles, cars or walking.
Per mile covered, trains and planes are far safe than other forms of transport.
