There was heartache in the community this week after police confirmed a 26-year-old woman was killed after she was hit by a scrambler bike.
The young woman was struck on Court Hey Road, in Huyton, on March 1 and sadly died from her injuries four days later.
Her death is the latest in a series of horrific crashes involving off-road bikes.
The incident is being investigated by Merseyside Police, while a force watchdog is also making enquiries.
While investigations into the incident continue, the woman's death is sadly not the first time a pedestrian has been severely injured or killed in a collision involving a scrambler bike.
In advice issued by the Government, it warned scrambler bikes "aren't toys" and there is information issued about who exactly can ride them.
Here we take a look at all the rules surrounding off-road vehicles and where they can be used.
What are off-road vehicles?
Off-road vehicles can include scrambler and quad bikes, electric scooters, buzz boards and min bikes.
They are motorised leisure vehicles and are designed for off-road use.
They are all powered by a 22.5xx stroke engine, meaning they can travel at very fast speeds
Who can ride them?
To ride a scrambler bike, electric scooter, buzz board, quad or mini-motor on a public road you must be 16 years old.
You must be this age and you must have a driving licence, third-party insurance, number plates, vehicle tax, lights, reflectors and a crash helmet.
This doesn't mean children under that age can't ride them at all, however. Children under 16 are allowed to ride scrambler bikes on private roads.
Advice from the Government reads: "Off-road vehicles aren’t toys.
"But you don’t need a licence to drive an off-road vehicle on private land. If your child has an off-road vehicle, it’s important you teach them about safe driving off-road.
"To stay safe on a quad or scrambler, your child should wear a helmet and strong, protective clothing."
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Where can you ride them?
You must not ride a scrambler bike on a public road unless you're 16 and you have a licence.
Scrambler bike riders are allowed to drive on private land if the landowner allows them to.
Off-road vehicles must not be driven on public roads or in public places such as:
- footpaths
- forests
- parks
- sports grounds
- car parks
- housing estates
- beaches
How can you report off-road vehicles in public places?
If you see people riding scramblers or quads in parks, forests or other public places, you should contact the police.
If an off-road vehicle rider causes distress or alarm, or you’re concerned about unsafe driving, call 999.
To report off-road vehicle riders causing nuisance or annoyance, call 100 or Crimestoppers.
The police can investigate an off-road vehicle being driven on a public road.
Police officers can seize the vehicle, prosecute or fine the driver and prosecute the child's parent or guardian.
