Quad Bike Safety: Issues Paper

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SW & MM Finger Grazing

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Questions 1-6

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! I feel that quad bike design is the biggest factor.
Each successive new model is getting more powerful, yet lighter in weight, this combined with independent suspension means that the newer models are far easier to both roll when turning or flip when going up an embankment.
The smoother the ride, the more disconnected the rider is with the actual roughness of the terrain and the more likely they are to go too fast.
We have owned 4 models of honda TRX 500s since 2012, & each one has been more successively dangerous.
The old models were slow-ish to respond to the accelerator, heavy with a good center of gravity & weight of the front, gave realistic feel of the terrain, and would maintain contact with the ground - the rear wheels tending to slide around corners long before it looked to roll.
The newest model ... one slight bump of the accelerator and the machine flies out form under you, it threatens to rear up going up even minor embankments, it is very smooth giving a false impression of a good road, it is very light on the road & maintains poor ground contact, and the independent rear suspension inhibits all slide, tending to roll instead at the slightest hint of cornering too fast.
We are going to sell it as it is just too dangerous to let anyone ride.

Also the mud flaps / tire guards need to be strengthened & extended. Several times we've had a log that we stood up by the front tire pierce through the plastics behind the front tire and spear into the foot well area. The rear mud/flaps tire guards need to be more substantial - we've had a couple of cases of the heel of rider's boots being caught by the rubber lugs on the back tire & sucking the foot under.

Thankfully we haven't had a quad bike incident that requires medical attention. All injuries have been minor injuries to the lower leg, but had the potential to be much worse.

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?
see above.

change seat design so that it can only take 1 person.

Make the bike difficult for a child to ride - eg manual foot gears only, no automatic or press-button gear changes.

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)?
I don't agree with ROPs on quad bikes.
To me they are more dangerous ... if it does roll, you need to be able to eject from the machine unencumbered. I have also heard of an incident of the rider forgetting about the ROPs sticking up behind them & ducking under a low tree branch, which clipped the ROPS & caused the bike to flip.

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?
There needs to be a clear distinction between bikes for racing or fun and bikes for agricultural work. The newer models are a dangerous hybrid.

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?
?

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?
More dire warnings about kids on quads.

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

In relation to the option of a consumer safety rating system:
1) cornering ability
2) embankment climbing ability
3) stability / roll over rating
4) acceleration & top speed limited

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:
I think there needs to be a dedicated safe agricultural model available.

I don't agree with a over-regulated "nanny state".
There will always be SOMETHING that is the cause of the most injuries, you can not eliminate all risk. People have to be responsible for their own actions.

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

10) If the ACCC recommends a mandatory safety standard for quad bikes:
It is my view that children simply should not be on quads.
They give the deception of stability. Our kids ride mini 2-wheelers.

Yes Agricultural bikes need to be different to sport bikes.

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?
Older models are safer than newer models for reasons given above.
We have deliberately kept old bikes beyond the times frame that we would otherwise like to trade them in because we can't find a suitable safe replacement.

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.
What is the bike being used for when most injuries occur??
I don't like spray tanks on bikes, it's just not necessary, particularly now with the availability of UTV Buggies.

If bikes are being used for mustering stock ... then stockmanship training for the people, & training in the use of working dogs are invaluable tools to prevent people from chasing cattle at speed on a bike.