A travel insurance company has recommended travellers think twice before getting on a quad bike overseas. The warning comes in the wake of an accident in which a British mother was severely injured, the sixth major bike accident in the Spanish resort of Ibiza since June.
Her son – the driver - was not licensed to ride a motorbike and is unlikely to be covered by travel insurance.
"There is an incorrect assumption amongst travellers that quad bikes are safer than motorbikes and that licences are not required. Quad bikes are very dangerous due to their high centre of gravity, and when riders do fall off, the bikes have a tendency to land on top of them," said Michael McAuliffe, executive director at SureSave.
McAuliffe said quad bikes are especially popular in Greece and the Spanish islands, but: "Laws and required licences for quad bikes vary from country to country. While the rental company mightn't ask for the licence at the time, if you happen to be riding illegally and have an accident, you will not be covered by your travel insurance. It's therefore very important that you make sure you're licensed to drive before you think about getting on a quad bike.”
Quad bike cover is automatically included in all international SureSave policies and does not represent an additional premium to the insured, but policies do not offer cover protection to an individual without the appropriate licence.
"Travel agents and consumers need to be aware of this important exclusion. Quad bikes are typically operated in dangerous terrain, and even a rider with extensive experience can end up in an accident and be looking at a hospital bill for tens of thousands of dollars if the appropriate precautions aren’t taken,” said McAuliffe.
A travel insurance company has recommended travellers think twice before getting on a quad bike overseas. The warning comes in the wake of an accident in which a British mother was severely injured, the sixth major bike accident in the Spanish resort of Ibiza since June.
Her son – the driver - was not licensed to ride a motorbike and is unlikely to be covered by travel insurance.
"There is an incorrect assumption amongst travellers that quad bikes are safer than motorbikes and that licences are not required. Quad bikes are very dangerous due to their high centre of gravity, and when riders do fall off, the bikes have a tendency to land on top of them," said Michael McAuliffe, executive director at SureSave.
McAuliffe said quad bikes are especially popular in Greece and the Spanish islands, but: "Laws and required licences for quad bikes vary from country to country. While the rental company mightn't ask for the licence at the time, if you happen to be riding illegally and have an accident, you will not be covered by your travel insurance. It's therefore very important that you make sure you're licensed to drive before you think about getting on a quad bike.”
Quad bike cover is automatically included in all international SureSave policies and does not represent an additional premium to the insured, but policies do not offer cover protection to an individual without the appropriate licence.
"Travel agents and consumers need to be aware of this important exclusion. Quad bikes are typically operated in dangerous terrain, and even a rider with extensive experience can end up in an accident and be looking at a hospital bill for tens of thousands of dollars if the appropriate precautions aren’t taken,” said McAuliffe.
