Rollover training aims for zero fatalities

Better quad bike safety is a must — the only question is how, writes Michael Guerin

New pathway: The debate over mandatory rollover protection on quad bikes needs to cover training and driver licensing issues. Picture: Andy Rogers

IT’S a tragic fact that agriculture is not only one of the toughest industries to devote your life to, it’s also one of the most dangerous.

Remote and rugged landscapes, large machinery, powerful animals, all contribute to one of the most dangerous workplaces in Australia.

Every year, 200 people across the country die in farm accidents.

After tractors, quad bikes claim the most lives.

Much is being done to address quad bike safety, but such is the complexity of this fraught issue that even experts can’t agree on the best way forward.

This is reflected in the different stances taken by agriculture peak bodies, including AgForce.

This is not, as some in the media try to present, because we disagree on the importance of improving quad bike safety, just that we have different views on how it’s to be achieved.

The Federal Government’s introduction of mandatory rollover protection is an example.

AgForce’s view, based on feedback from members and their collective experience, is that rollover protection can be lifesaving, but that it should not be mandated.

Many of our members include rollover protection as part of their farm safety regimen, others consider them but decide they are not appropriate for their situation.

The evidence on their effectiveness is inconclusive, and there are some circumstances where they can decrease rider safety.

The best person to make that decision is the farmer, not a city-based bureaucrat.

What is not in dispute, though, is the effectiveness of education and training, and other safety measures like helmets.

Mandatory training and licensing would be a much more effective solution.

A good system would ensure all quad bike riders — not just farmers — were equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle their machines more safely.

Unfortunately, the mandating of rollover protection has had the perverse outcome of reducing safety.

How? As a result of the legislation, three major quad bike manufacturers have exited the Australian market.

While some farmers have made the switch to side-by-sides, not all have found them the right fit for their property, and so some are switching to less safe options – such as motorbikes, horses, and helicopters – for the multitude of farm duties that quad bikes fulfil.

No doubt this debate will continue for as long as there are quad bike fatalities.

AgForce and others will continue to advocate for what we believe are better safety initiatives in pursuit of zero fatalities.

● Michael Guerin is AgForce chief executive

MORE

Farmer dies in ATV rollover at Glenaroua

Suzuki to end ATV sales from October 2021

All CFMOTO ATVs to be fitted with OPDs by October