Quad Bike Safety: Issues Paper

Response 1028584072

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Rhonda

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Questions 1-6

1) Can you provide additional data or information on costings of injuries and fatalities caused by quad bikes?

1) Can you provide additional data or information on costings of injuries and fatalities caused by quad bikes?
Bikes and cars on road would cost more

2) Would design changes to quad bikes be likely to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by quad bikes in Australia?

2) Would design changes to quad bikes be likely to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by quad bikes in Australia?
No

4) If your view is that design features should be mandated or prohibited to increase quad bike safety, could the regulation be designed to encourage innovation rather than prescribing particular products or technical solutions (for example by ensuring fitting points or attachment mechanisms to allow the development of improved CPDs or ROPSs or by prescribing performance-based outcomes rather than technical designs)?

4) If your view is that design features should be mandated or prohibited to increase quad bike safety, could the regulation be designed to encourage innovation rather than prescribing particular products or technical solutions (for example by ensuring fitting points or attachment mechanisms to allow the development of improved CPDs or ROPSs or by prescribing performance-based outcomes rather than technical designs)?
They would be likely to cause more injuries.

5) If any or all of these design changes were implemented in Australia, are you able to estimate the additional cost that would be imposed on Australian suppliers?

5) If any or all of these design changes were implemented in Australia, are you able to estimate the additional cost that would be imposed on Australian suppliers?
It would put the cost up for these bikes

6) To what extent does the US Standard satisfactorily address design features that ensure quad bikes are safe for use? Do you consider that Australia should adopt a mandatory safety standard similar to the US Standard? To what extent would this option impose additional costs on Australian suppliers or create barriers to trade?

6) To what extent does the US Standard satisfactorily address design features that ensure quad bikes are safe for use? Do you consider that Australia should adopt a mandatory safety standard similar to the US Standard? To what extent would this option impose additional costs on Australian suppliers or create barriers to trade?
NO. Australia conditions are different to USA

Questions 7-12

7) Are consumers currently getting adequate information at the purchase point about quad bike use and limitations or safety information and equipment? Should there be additional warnings or instructions displayed at the point of purchase or provided with the sale of quad bikes?

7) Are consumers currently getting adequate information at the purchase point about quad bike use and limitations or safety information and equipment? Should there be additional warnings or instructions displayed at the point of purchase or provided with the sale of quad bikes?
When I bought a quad I was told the information. Do people listen to what they are told.

8) In relation to the option of a consumer safety rating system:

In relation to the option of a consumer safety rating system:
Teach the rider to ride a Quad

9) If your view is that regulation is needed to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by quad bikes in Australia, how should these be implemented? One proposed option is to prohibit or mandate particular design features; another is to increase consumer information, including through a consumer safety rating system; a third option is a combination of both:

9) If your view is that regulation is needed to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by quad bikes in Australia, how should these be implemented? One proposed option is to prohibit or mandate particular design features; another is to increase consumer information, including through a consumer safety rating system; a third option is a combination of both:
First of all STOP blaming the quad bike and look at the riders
1 Where are they riding?
2 How much experience have they had handling the machine.
3 If you can’t walk up a hill or slope don’t ride up it (Advice I was given when purchasing my quad)
4 Four wheel drive with independent suspension are more likely to be rolled by inexperience than a two wheel drive with full solid rear axel. (I use a 2 wheel drive on cattle work and have no problems). I have used a 4 wheel drive and find it more unstable and less turning ability.
5. Most accidents I have heard of have been the fault of the rider including my own, when I hit a barb wire fence because of a lapse of concertation not the Quad bike’s fault, It was mine. I lived to tell the tale. I have over 35,000 klms on my machine and 10 years of using the Quad and only one accident as described above.
6 Roll cages may sound good but you are chasing cattle and a bull or cow with horns turns on you and gets their horns caught in the roll cage and turns the bike upside down how do you get off.
7.Helmets may look good but are they going to save anybody. How many motor cycle accidents on the highway have been saved by helmets and the correct riding gear. Many are still killed. They do not give you any sun protection in Queensland. I still consider if I would have had a helmet on the day I hit the barb wire fence I would have had a broken neck because the wire would have caught the helmet and taken me off the bike.
8 As a farmer have you tried to get under a water irrigator with boots, helmet and the full riding gear. How long would it take you to dress and under dress every time you go to the water irrigator.

10) If the ACCC recommends a mandatory safety standard for quad bikes:

10) If the ACCC recommends a mandatory safety standard for quad bikes:
How can you put one rule for all people when some people use them as work horses other just for hooning and others for pleasure riding.

11) What is the life cycle of quad bikes in Australia? For example, on average how long do consumers use quad bikes before the vehicle is retired? How long might it take before the current stock of 380,000 quad bikes is replaced by new stock that satisfies requirements of a safety standard, if imposed?

11) What is the life cycle of quad bikes in Australia? For example, on average how long do consumers use quad bikes before the vehicle is retired? How long might it take before the current stock of 380,000 quad bikes is replaced by new stock that satisfies requirements of a safety standard, if imposed?
Mine is 10 years old and still going strong.

12) Please provide any other information you consider may be relevant to the ACCC’s consideration of these issues.

12) Please provide any other information you consider may be relevant to the ACCC’s consideration of these issues.
Read my answers in question 9

Consider talking to people who use these machine everyday for their farm life and see how they handled life on a quad.