The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is calling for the urgent introduction of a new safety star rating system for quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles, following yesterday’s NSW Coronial Inquest findings into nine quad bike deaths.
Quad bikes are the leading cause of death on Australian farms. More than 200 people have died in quad bike incidents in Australia since 2001, with almost two thirds occurring in rural communities and 18 lives lost already this year.
“There is increasing evidence of the need for safer quad bike design. Stability is the missing ingredient. Rollovers happen far too often, leaving the rider crushed underneath,” NFF President Brent Finlay said.
“Our recipe for success is to ensure that all farm equipment sold in Australia is safe, affordable and practical, and that accurate information is provided at point of sale. These two components will drive better purchasing decisions and deliver safer outcomes on the farm.
“A well designed star rating system will help consumers to make safer, more informed choices when purchasing farm vehicles. It will also encourage manufacturers to develop safer, more stable quad bikes for the Australian market – that is, vehicles with improved stability, dynamic handling and rollover crashworthiness.
“The good news is that Australian farms are getting safer each year, but we still have a lot of work to do. We can all do more to keep our friends, our employees and our families out of harm’s way.
“We can’t afford to put action on quad bike safety off any longer – our rural communities demand it. And we owe it to them to create a safer environment so that they can focus on what they do best – producing great Australian food and fibre, each and every day,” said Mr Finlay.
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