Explained: Qld’s quad bike safety crackdown

Helmets could be mandatory in some instances, while passengers may be banned and age limits put in place. Here’s what’s proposed under a new quad bike safety crackdown.

HELMETS would be mandatory for quad bike riders on farms and other workplaces across Queensland under a safety crackdown that has been floated by the state’s Office of Industrial Relations (OIR).

Under-16s would also be banned from using quad bikes in the workplace, unless the bike manufacturer recommends a lower minimum age, while official training would become mandatory as well.

The OIR has raised the proposed rules in a discussion paper, which also suggests that passengers should be barred from quad bikes, unless the vehicle is specifically designed to take passengers.

The proposed rules would apply to workplaces, such as farms.

The OIR says the potential shake up to the rules, which would only apply to workplaces, is part of an ongoing effort in the Sunshine State to boost quad bike safety.

According to the agency’s discussion paper, there were 64 quad bike deaths across Australia between 2017 and 2021 – with 22 of them confirmed to be work-related.

This included 20 fatalities in Queensland – the most of any jurisdiction in Australia over this period – with seven deaths that were determined to be work-related.

Under the proposed changes, the mandatory helmet rule would also apply to side-by-side vehicles (SSV), and seatbelts would have to be worn in an SSV if the vehicle is fitted with them.

An SSV would also not be allowed to carry a passenger, unless the passenger is at least eight years of age, they can hold the vehicle’s handrail, and their feet can be placed flat on the floor while seated.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said safety in the agricultural industry, particularly when it came to quad bikes, was a key priority for the government.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace. Photo: Steve Pohlner

“We’ve already done a lot in this space, including our Ride Ready site and ongoing safety campaigns, but we will never rest on our laurels,” she said.

“That’s why we are exploring changes to Work Health and Safety regulations regarding quad bike safety. I encourage everyone to have their say as part of this consultation process.”

In 2017, the government introduced rules that mandated helmet use for quad bike riders, but only for roads or road-related areas – with those caught breaking the rules liable to be fined.

It is expected to take a number months before officials make a final decision on the proposed changes.

“The Queensland government will carefully consider community feedback and assess the impact of any regulatory changes,” a spokesman for the OIR said.