A recent trend on the video-sharing platform TikTok has many shoppers, mostly young adults, running to the nearest Kmart just to get their hands on a bargain children toy – but for an entirely different reason.

Kmart’s $29 Wiggle Carts are ride-on toys that allow children to propel themselves forward by turning the front wheel with their feet.

But after several videos of the wiggle carts went viral online, the toys have sold out at multiple stores across the country, prompting Kmart to issue a safety warning over the misuse of the product.

Teens are using Kmart’s wiggle carts to slide down parking building ramps. Credit: TikTok.​

Apparently, despite being listed for children with a weight limit of 50kg, Kmart’s wiggle carts were being used by teens to slide and drift down slopes at high speeds on roads and car park ramps, all without safety gears.

Several videos of “wiggle cart racing” went viral on TikTok, with some even organising their own “wiggle cart meets”.

“This is your sign to go buy a Wiggle cart from Kmart,” the person said in the video, which went on to amass over a million views.

Thousands of other users have taken to the comments section to express their desire to purchase a Wiggle Cart, while some shoppers who have already bought the children’s toy said it’s the best $30 they have ever spent.

A Kmart employee also revealed that they have been getting endless requests and inquiries for the product.

Several videos soon followed on TikTok, showing daredevils speeding down the ramps on their wiggle carts. At one point, one rider can be seen appearing to spin out of control, before colliding with another person.

Another rider said they “nearly died” after falling off one of the carts.

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The recent trend has prompted safety experts to intervene.

Russell White, Australian Road Safety’s chief executive, said that using the wiggle carts is extremely dangerous, pointing out that since it uses the person’s body weight to move, it would be hard to control the device on downhill slopes.

He added that there are implications that teens will use the toy in places other than parking buildings, and this could pose more risks because it could involve motorists and larger vehicles.

“If they’re a little out of control on the device, coming to a sudden stop with a vehicle is going to get you into some trouble,” he said.

“If a car is coming around the corner, a driver is not expecting to see this so low to the ground. When you look at these videos, the riders’ heads are at the same level or below the concrete ramps so they’re going to be sight unseen for drivers.”

He said that while the activity may look fun and innocent for teens, it could end up being quite dangerous if done on open roads or near car traffic since the devices don’t come with a handbrake.

Kmart has also issued a statement regarding the “misuse” of their products.

The spokesperson made it clear that the Wiggle Cart is designed for kids ages 7 and above, and has a listed weight capacity of 50 kg.

They also encouraged customers to abide by the usage and safety instructions on the product packaging, which includes wearing protective gear.

 

[JayKay]

Dear oh dear me .....these sound like loads of fun.
Takes me back to my billy-cart days.
My older brother used to make billy-carts from bits and pieces scrounged from the local tip....timber, fruit packing boxes, pram wheels, bits of carpet for the seat....what freedom, what joy to have the wind blowing through the hair.
And the old school shoes which were the brakes. Steering was accomplished by the rope attached to the front axle.
I acknowledge.....very few cars on the roads, so we were a lot safer than it would be these days.
Had to be the roads, because there were so few footpaths.