Quad Bike Safety: Issues Paper

Response 256803431

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What is your name?

Name
Fiona Taylor

What is your organisation?

Organisation
Farmer/agriculture

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?
Information: Mustering sheep on my property and luckily I was on my little 125cc Yamaha rather than the 250cc I usually ride, driving steadily, when, a large rock jacked my left hand back tyre rolling the bike straight over on top of me. I was trapped under the weight of the bike with the motor still going.

I had to crawl out one limb at a time but I was very lucky that I was on the little bike because it was smaller and lighter. If I had been on the big bike I would have been crushed. Also I did not have time to save myself or stop the bike from rolling on top of me.

My left knee became swollen and had to have ex-rays and ultra sound with the tendons becoming stretched. Cost wise, time is money when I had to delay sorting and selling my sheep.

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?
Yes design changes would definitely reduce injuries and fatalities caused by quad bikes.

3) If you answered ‘yes’ to question 2, what design changes do you consider would have this effect? Which design features, if any, should a safety standard mandate or prohibit? In particular the ACCC is interested in understanding design changes that are likely to reduce:

3) If you answered ‘yes’ to question 2, what design changes do you consider would have this effect? Which design features, if any, should a safety standard mandate or prohibit?
Design changes: reducing the size of the bike to no bigger than a 250cc and no smaller than the 90cc.

Design changes such as the motor at the back but balancing the front to the same weight as the back and the bike made wider with roll cage designed so that the bike will roll back onto its wheels. And the roll cage have mesh each side so the riders arms do not fall out and a bucket seat with a seat belt. With level alarm if bike is going too much to its left or right

This type of design would decrease injuries and fatalities caused by quad bike roll over children and stop a passenger from being carried on board.

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)?
The design should be mandated to increase quad bike safety and the regulation and encourage innovation to develop both CPD's and ROPS's. But do not add technical jargon because that goes against the performance outcome of a motor cycle when used for agriculture.

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?
I can not estimate these design changes if implemented in Australia but I do know it would decrease injuries and fatalities if imposed on Australian suppliers.

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?
It is obvious that the US standards and designs are not satisfactorily addressed to ensure the safety of quad bike users.

Australia should mandate its own safety standards and this should not impose additional costs or create trade barriers to trade when lives and less injury is of highest importance.

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?
Yes they are but many do not care to read the information which is on the stickers on the quads unfortunately.

The warnings need to be read by the selling agent then the purchaser tick that the information has been read then sign the document.

It would reduce liability to agent and purchaser be more aware of injury related accidents and hazards caused by riding quad bikes recklessly.

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

In relation to the option of a consumer safety rating system:
Testing criteria specified: The quad capable of returning back onto its four wheels.
The role cage can with stand the weight of a role over and rider.
The alarm alert showing the dangerous level to stop the rider and quad from rolling.

The testing criteria should be specified on the sale card where price is shown.

Costs imposed: Is not important when lives are of highest important.

The benefits a consumer safety rating system would have would be beneficial so that consumers know the bikes have been tested for safety and quality assurance.

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:
Regulation needs to be implemented and mandated to the size of the bike.

The age in which a small child rides a quad where if the child is badly injured the parents are charged with neglect. Child has to be at least 7 before riding bike alone.

The other is getting the balance right with motor v balance and safety.

And yes include the safety rating and consumer information by television advertisements when bike company is advertising prices etc.

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

10) If the ACCC recommends a mandatory safety standard for quad bikes:
The standard should be right across the board from SSVs as well as quads.

The standard should commence with new bikes only.
No transitional provision.
No expiry date
Should only apply to new bikes after the transitional date.

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?
The life cycle of a quad bike on a agriculture enterprise is until death or trade in when bike would only be valued at $500.00 or there about.

From early 2018 all new bikes manufactured should have safety standard imposed.

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.
It is of highest priority that from observation as a farmer in agriculture that quad bikes are being made too heavy and too big!

There is simply no need for that where the rider is at more risk of being killed and or crushed!

As a farmer we do not wear helmets because we need to wear hats. And when a bike topples over backwards it does not save the neck or head from injury.