Pocket bikes may be popular with kids but they are unpopular with safety advocates and law enforcement agencies.

Pocket bikes are motorized bikes that look like small motorcycles and they have exploded in popularity. But before you rush out and buy one you should be aware of the hazards they pose. They achieve speeds of 12 to 50 miles per hour and accidents have resulted in serious injuries and death. These bikes are less than two feet high so they may not be visible to motorists.

Aside from the dangers, driving them may be legal only in some areas. In Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, pocket bikes must be registered and the rider must have a driver’s license. Unfortunately, some retailers are telling consumers that anyone, even kids, can ride these bikes on public roads.