Fads Raise Safety Concerns

The Canada Safety Council is urging a proactive approach on two dangerous new fads.

High Impairment, Low BAC

A new device enables people to “snort” spirits. The Alcohol Without Liquid (AWOL) vaporiser is being marketed to night clubs, bars and private party organizers as a way to consume alcohol without calories or a hangover. It was introduced in the UK in February and in the US this summer.

The alcohol vapour bypasses the stomach and liver, and is absorbed through blood vessels in the nose or lungs. This creates a “hit” up to 10 times more potent than by drinking the same amount of alcohol. Medical experts believe that inhaling alcohol could cause serious brain damage.

AWOL users could have a blood alcohol concentration well below the legal limit despite being far too drunk to drive. The potential of this device to impair driving ability while still allowing the user to pass a breathalyser test poses a serious safety concern.

In July, the Australian state of New South Wales indicated it will ban the AWOL device. That government will make the alcohol vaporiser an “undesirable alcohol product” under the Liquor Act.  A legislator in Long Island, NY wants to ban its sale, purchase and use in his county. The UK group ACAD (Advice and Counselling on Alcohol and Drugs) has registered an official complaint about AWOL to Trading Standards, stating that the strength of the alcohol vaporised cannot be monitored.

Pocket Bikes

Miniature motorcycles, a.k.a. “pocket bikes”, have suddenly become a major fad. The bikes are small and light enough to carry under the arm, but big enough for an adult to ride. Certain models are being marketed for children as young as three or four years old. They are cheap, at just over $500. They can accelerate quickly to speeds of 55 km/h and faster.

These vehicles do not meet the safety requirements of a motorcycle. They are quite low to the ground, so motorists may not see them. The riders do not have to be licensed and generally do not wear the proper protective equipment. Increasingly they are being used on sidewalks and public roads — which is both unsafe and illegal.

Under federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, pocket bikes can be categorized as either a “competition vehicle ” or a “restricted use motorcycle”. Historically, they have been used in “closed course competition”, i.e. at go-cart circuits or racetracks. If the manufacturer declares the pocket bike as a restricted use motorcycle, it must bear a label that states in both official languages that the vehicle is a restricted use motorcycle and is not intended for use on public highways.

With the rising popularity of pocket bikes, communities must find ways to keep them off the road. Public education, enforcement and common sense are critical; some U.S. communities have banned them. In addition, there are serious concerns about how the bikes are being used and the fact that they are being marketed as a toy for children.

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Status of “Pocket Bikes” in Canada