Have your say on quad bike safety says ACCC

The ACCC is calling upon quad bike riders and industry figures to have their say about improving quad bike safety

Interested parties can make a submission to the ACCC’s quadbike safety investigation with proposed reforms outlined in an Issues Paper released today.

“Tragically, 114 people have been killed in Australia in quad bike accidents since 2011. The ACCC is investigating a range of possible options to improve quad bike safety and prevent further deaths and injuries in the community,” ACCC Commissioner Mick Keogh says.

“A key question is whether a safety standard should be introduced for quad bikes under the Australian Consumer Law.”

The ACCC Quad Bike Safety Taskforce is seeking feedback from stakeholders including manufacturers, dealers, workplace safety experts, researchers, farmers and quad bike users on a range of issues and options, such as:

• Mandating specific design requirements and construction of quad bikes, including features that reduce the risk for children riding quad bikes designed for adults
• Introducing a safety rating system and the testing of quad bike models before they are sold in Australia
• Mandating safety warning information consumers would receive when buying a new quad bike

“The ACCC recognises that quad bikes are important vehicles for many Australians who rely on them for work on farms, or use them recreationally, which is why it is important for stakeholders to have their say,” Keogh says.

The ACCC will be making a draft recommendation to government early next year, with its final recommendation to be made mid-2018.

The Issues Paper and information on the consultation process is on the ACCC website.

The ACCC strongly recommends that you follow safety advice on Product Safety Australia.

In October the Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash and Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack announced the establishment of the ACCC Quadbike Safety Taskforce.

About 20,000 quad bikes are sold each year in Australia and they are one of the leading causes of death and injury on Australian farms. The ACCC estimates that there is approximately 380,000 quad bikes in operation in Australia used for in workplaces, recreation, adventure tours and competitive racing.

In the period of 1 January 2011 to 16 October 2017:

• 114 people have died in quad bike-related accidents
• Children under the age of 16 accounted for 15% of these deaths, children 11 under accounted for 9% of these deaths
• About half the deaths were workers and half were recreational users
• Almost half (55 fatalities) of all deaths were the result of a rollover
• Ages of the deceased ranged from four to 94 years
• 83% of deaths were males
• In 2017 so far, there have been 10 deaths, including a six year old girl and a seven year old boy

Photography: Hero Images/Hero Images/Getty Images