The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) has issued a warning to British tourists about the dangers of using mopeds and quad bikes abroad, following a series of accidents and fatalities.
Abta advises holidaymakers to only use quad bikes as part of organised tours, and to hire cars instead of mopeds. Those who ignore this advice risk serious injury, the organisation said.
In 2017, UK travel companies reported 36 quad bike accidents and seven moped accidents, but Abta believes the actual number is much higher. Notable incidents include a 23-year-old Northern Irish man who had his leg amputated after a moped crash in Thailand in December 2017, and a 19-year-old from Swindon killed while riding a quad bike in Greece last month.
Abta's Nikki White said many holidaymakers have little experience with these vehicles and are unfamiliar with local roads and driving standards. She also warned that many travel insurance policies do not cover quad biking, leaving tourists facing huge financial costs.
Lewis Evans from Thornbury near Bristol suffered devastating injuries in a quad bike accident on Zante in 2016. His family had to raise £30,000 for an air ambulance after discovering his insurance did not cover quad biking.
White added: 'We're advising holidaymakers who have little experience on mopeds to think twice before hiring these vehicles, and only ride quad bikes if they are part of a properly supervised off-road excursion.'
