Ride-on toys

"Turbo-charged foot-to-floor acceleration" or simply Ride-on toys

>>> Safety helmets a "must" >>> Learn movement and balance >>>Sturdy and durable design >>> On the safe side with TÜV GS mark

Munich. Tractors, excavators, cranes, scooters, go-carts, ride-on cars, trikes – there is a huge variety of kids’ ride-on vehicles. Almost every technical miracle on two or more wheels is now available in mini format too. The latest hit among two-to-four-year olds is foot-to-floor bikes, giving foot-to-floor cars and other ride-on toys a run for their money. After all, even experts rate these "high-speed" steering vehicles as educationally valuable, enabling the little ones to train their sense of balance, movement and coordination -- the best possible way to prepare for full-size bicycles later on.

Thanks to turbo foot-to-floor acceleration, kids can reach breakneck speed on all of these ride-on toys. Given this, experts from TÜV Product Service, TÜV SÜD Group, advise parents to make sure that their toddlers always wear a safety helmet. After all, safety always comes first even if your two-year old may find the protective headgear awkwardly at first. In addition, kids should never ride unsupervised. Avoid all public roads and sloping terrain.

High injury risks in case of falls

Common to all ride-on toys is that they have to meet high safety standards. After all, children hand out some pretty rough treatment to their toys. Mini tractors are dragged along the road, scooters are dropped, ride-on cars shoved downhill. To cut a long story short: every ride-on toy should be designed for sturdiness and durability.
Manufacturers must see to it that the "vehicles" do not have any crushing or shearing points. Additionally, handlebar ends should be cushioned with soft rubber sleeves because they present a high risk of injury in case of falls. A child falling awkwardly onto the end of the handlebar, for example, may be considerably hurt.
Detailed instructions for use including safety tips and exhaustive assembly instructions should always be included with the product.

Natural brakes - the feet

Ride-on toys such as scooters and foot-to-floor bikes are not approved for road traffic. They are regarded as toys, and manufacturers must therefore comply with the central EN 71-1 Toy Safety Standard. When purchasing a ride-on toy, parents should look out for the blue octagon or the GS mark of TÜV Product Service. In addition to the above EU standard, our experts consider individual safety requirements tailored to each ride-on toy. Differences exist, for example, with respect to brakes: foot-to-floor cars, say, do not necessarily need brakes as kids can stop the vehicle with their feet at any time. However, foot-to-floor bikes with a saddle height above 435 millimetres (only just under 10 per cent of foot-to-floor bikes) must be equipped with at least one mechanical brake. Trikes with pushbars must offer freewheeling to prevent painful injuries in case the childrens feet slip from the pedals.

Good maintenance - long life

Whether your ride-on toy is made of wood, aluminium or other metal, every material involves special safety requirements. Wood, for example, should be moisture-resistant and splinter-free and treated with harmless substances. The same applies to corrosion protection for metal toys. Otherwise, all materials have both advantages and disadvantages; aluminium can take more strain, but plastics are lighter in weight and wood is more natural. Common to all materials is: good maintenance guarantees a long service life.