Quad bikes & fatalities

[Chucaro]

It appears that in the las 2 years there are more fatalities in the bush caused by quad bikes accidents that in tractors or other agricultural machinery.
The panic button was hit and now studies to introduce new laws are on the pipeline.
The interesting thing is that relatives to those killed are saying that laws with restrictions on who can use them or fines are not the answer. Education it is the way to go.
Some how I agree with them.
Here is some reading about the subject.

QuadWatch
(http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/whs-information/agriculture/quad-watch/pages/quad-watch)

[460cixy]

Been happening for years there pretty safe when used with a little common sence. But strap a spray tank on the back and go spray black Berrys on the side of a hill and it can all go wrong that's just one example.

[Spydz]

I raced quads and 2 wheelers for quite a few years...it's easy to ride a 2 wheeler fast but not slow...it's easier to ride a quad slow but not fast...this brings a level of false confidence and with the quad which ever direction it throws you the bike is coming for you not far behind generally...a bit of common sense goes along way...

[JDNSW]

As 460cixy says, this is nothing new. It is difficult to see how new laws are going to change anything, as any laws regarding who uses them and how are totally unenforceable, and safety equipment (such as roll bars) is easily removed and placards ignored.

There is no doubt about it, they can be dangerous, but so can a lot of other things on a farm. Most tractor fatalities have been prevented by compulsory roll bars - but these have only appeared on most tractors after years of education.

I should point out that I strongly suspect that suicide caused more rural deaths than quad bikes - yet little is done about that, just ever increasing pressures on those on the land.

John

[crash]

Education is the main thing.
I grew up in the era of 3 wheelers and loved them. Still would love to have a sports quad.
The biggest problem I saw growing up was inexperienced riders on powerful machines. Would you let your 10 or 12 year old on a 250cc 2 wheeled motorcycle - probably not mostly due to them not being able to reach the ground with their feet - but I saw many riding a 250cc 3 or 4 wheeler.

Farm quads are heavy - even my small 250 quad is a heavy beast. It has signs for kids under the age of 16 not allowed. Quads need "body english" to ride properly and a small 16year old would not be able to do this in off camber situations.
Unfortunately people have not had the experience on smaller lighter machines before getting onto the bigger machines.

[windsock]

Having been on a course as a part of the wind farm site management OHS requirements I can vouch for the merits of a well run education course. Learned more on safe handling of quads in awkward situations in 3 days than in all the years of using them. Well worth it.

Nothing like sorting out many years of stupid behavior in 3 days... :D

[S3ute]

I should point out that I strongly suspect that suicide caused more rural deaths than quad bikes - yet little is done about that, just ever increasing pressures on those on the land.

John

John,

Hello from Brisbane.

I largely agree with your sentiment on rural suicide - we have one of the highest if not the highest rate in the world - but don't know that the suggestion that little is being done about it is entirely fair.

I come from a fairly large extended rural family and there have been a couple of suicides in there over the years - and it really hurts deep for all of those affected, especially grandparents, parents, spouses and kids.

However, there are a lot of people in the rural areas engaged in seeking solutions, offering help (even if too late), and generally trying to get on top of what is a genuinely difficult situation.

On the topic of quads - the fact is that they are potentially dangerous (as are many other inanimate objects) and the statistics on farm fatalities are likely to be correct. While suicide is genuinely lethal it isn't usually classed as a fatality in the same sense as accidents from stock, horse riding, falling trees, windmills, wool presses, chain saws, PTOs, rollovers etc.

Again, we have had a couple of run-ins with quads over the years, but I would also agree that little by way of regulation, modification or even training would have avoided them. Just simple cases of short spans of inattention while looking at cattle rather than the track.

My concern is the growing tendency of letting little Charlie jump on one with limited experience and opening the throttle........... Tourist operations that allow complete novices a promise of thrills, adventure and a free rein are even more worrying.

Cheers,

[JDNSW]

John,

Hello from Brisbane.

I largely agree with your sentiment on rural suicide - we have one of the highest if not the highest rate in the world - but don't know that the suggestion that little is being done about it is entirely fair.

I agree that there are worthwhile services that help, but there is little being done to address ever increasing pressure on rural people, especially farmers. Ever increasing red tape to do anything, and dismissal of rural concerns by the vast majority of city people as unimportant.

I come from a fairly large extended rural family and there have been a couple of suicides in there over the years - and it really hurts deep for all of those affected, especially grandparents, parents, spouses and kids.

Absolutely. They probably hurt more than accidents do.

However, there are a lot of people in the rural areas engaged in seeking solutions, offering help (even if too late), and generally trying to get on top of what is a genuinely difficult situation.

Yes, I have used some of them.

On the topic of quads - the fact is that they are potentially dangerous (as are many other inanimate objects) and the statistics on farm fatalities are likely to be correct. While suicide is genuinely lethal it isn't usually classed as a fatality in the same sense as accidents from stock, horse riding, falling trees, windmills, wool presses, chain saws, PTOs, rollovers etc.

Latest accidental death locally was a horse (polo).

Again, we have had a couple of run-ins with quads over the years, but I would also agree that little by way of regulation, modification or even training would have avoided them. Just simple cases of short spans of inattention while looking at cattle rather than the track.

My feeling exactly. Mind you, the most recent quad bike accident round here was the 25y.o. next door chasing pigs. Fortunately not fatal, and despite a broken neck, has recovered fairly well.

My concern is the growing tendency of letting little Charlie jump on one with limited experience and opening the throttle........... Tourist operations that allow complete novices a promise of thrills, adventure and a free rein are even more worrying.

Cheers,

Tourist operations perhaps are amenable to regulation, although it is difficult to see how these can really be enforced, especially if their use requires a signed release.

As for children - my grandchildren have never been allowed on my quad bike (which I have just sold) anyway.

John

[stallie]

When I was flying for the RFDS, the ratio of quad accidents to motorbike accidents was about 3:1.

People generally feel unstable and back off on a motorbike before it spits them off.

People don't feel unstable on a quad bike until it spits them off and rolls on them….

The saddest one I did was being called out on Christmas day. The quad bike was the 12yo boy's Xmas present…

[350RRC]

...................
I should point out that I strongly suspect that suicide caused more rural deaths than quad bikes - yet little is done about that, just ever increasing pressures on those on the land.................

John

Totally agree. Friends on the land in western Vic told me about this issue during the drought in 2008 ish.

Every week someone went MIA, who was known to everyone else in a lot of communities or families in those communities.

AFAIK a lot of work is now being done to help those under stress, but the media concentration on quads is a bit of a distraction from real rural life threats.

cheers, DL

[mox]

Seems to me that a major problem is that quad bikes have become on the average too big, heavy, complicated and expensive -including for fuel used. . My father was one of the early purchasers of a 3 wheeler for farm use in late 1972, not long after they first appeared. Motor was basically that of Honda 90 cc postie bike. Unfortunately 3 wheelers were discontinued, apparently because they were banned or restricted from use in snow in USA because too many idiots were killing or injuring themselves from tipping three wheelers over. 4 wheelers are inherently more stable but due to the large amount of power many current ones have, riders are more inclined to get themselves into trouble. Then effects of accidents, especially rollovers are often more severe than for smaller bikes, etc because these 4 wheelers are so heavy. Note a neighbour of mine recently updated to a new large 4 wheeler. It has uses that nothing else can do on an irrigation farm. However, he doesn't mind reminding everyone that it uses more fuel for distance covered than a Nissan Patrol he has. Seems to me that the independent suspension, which is good when near new may be a "can of worms" as components wear and/or bend.