Quad bike safety: ACCC wants operator protection

AUSTRALIA’s consumer watchdog has called for all quad bikes to be fitted with crush protection or rollover devices.

AUSTRALIA’s consumer watchdog has called for all quad bikes to be fitted with crush protection or rollover devices.

The recommendation forms part of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s investigation into quad-bike design.

“The ACCC believes a mandatory safety standard incorporating all of these elements is the best option to save lives and make quad bikes safer for everyone. We invite the public and stakeholders to have their say on this important safety proposal,” ACCC commissioner Mick Keogh said.

To help reduce the deaths and injuries associated with quad bikes, the ACCC is proposing a mandatory safety standard that:

ADOPTS the US Standard and requires an additional rollover warning label;

INTRODUCES a safety star-rating system so safer vehicles get a higher rating;

REQUIRE manufacturers to integrate an operator protection device, such as a crush protection device or rollover protection device in the design of new quad bikes;

IMPOSES minimum performance tests for dynamic handling, stability and mechanical suspension and requires that all wheels be able to rotate at different speeds.

Quad bike accidents result in an average of 16 deaths in Australia each year. They also result in approximately six people per day attending a hospital emergency department and two of these requiring hospitalisation for serious injuries.

“The ACCC has considered a range of evidence and views in making this draft recommendation,” Mr Keogh said.

“We have consulted with industry representatives, quad-bike manufacturers and retailers, farmers, consumers, academics, hospitals, health professionals, tourism operators, among many others.”

The ACCC has developed a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement, which details the proposed options to make quad bikes safer.

“I encourage stakeholders to consider the proposed options to improve the safety of quad bikes and make their submission by 4 May 2018, before we make a final recommendation to the Government mid-year” Mr Keogh said.

If you currently own or ride a quad bike, the ACCC strongly recommends that you follow safety advice on Product Safety Australia.

Improving the safety of quad bikes is a product-safety priority for the ACCC in 2018.

There are about 190,000 quad bikes in operation in Australia used for in workplaces, recreation, adventure tours and competitive racing.

Currently about 16,000 quad bikes are sold each year in Australia and they are one of the leading causes of death and injury on Australian farms.

Since January 1, 2011, 114 people have died in quad bike-related incidents.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has opposed the fitting of crush protection devices to quad bikes, lodging a submission with the ACCC that warns these and other rollover protection devices have all “been found in computer simulation studies to cause approximately as many or more injuries than they prevent”.

“The industry is unaware of any reliable research to show crush protection devices as being effective in reducing injuries,” the FCAI said.