Quad Bike Safety: Issues Paper

Response 69197849

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Giles Donovan

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Quad Bike King Adventure Tours

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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?
We call an ambulance approximately once per 5,000 rides. 90% of those injuries would be related to a broken bone that does not require an overnight stay in hospital. There have been no accidents that I would describe as life threatening, disabling or with long term effects.

Through my awareness of the sector, I would say the experience of Quad Bike King is industry typical. Of course this makes quad bike tourism much safer when compared against nearly all sporting and recreational activities.

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

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?
Quad Bike King had 50mm spacers engineered and fitted to all our touring quad bikes. These are placed behind the wheels and effectively makes the bikes wider. By bringing the centre of gravity lower, rollovers were substantially reduced.

I am familiar with another tourism operator who has installed rollover quadbars to great effect. Their main benefit being that the bike stops quickly and the rider rolls out of danger.

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)?
A lot of the new youth quad bikes have very low centres of gravity and it is extremely hard to roll them over. Adult bikes are more narrow, heavier and as a result, much more likely to rollover. It makes no sense to me and I would support the mandating of wider wheel bases.

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 cost us $200 per bike to buy four 50mm spacers. I would propose that the cost of simply installing longer wheel bases would be negligible.

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?
There could be a concern that adopting a design requirement unique to Australia might not be adopted by all the manufacturers and hence reduce the choice and competition in the market.

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?
I am doubtful that more information provided at the point of sale will have any long term recall or effect.

Most of the accidents I see at Quad Bike King are as a result of drivers straying from the supervised activity and losing control. They tend to happen at the end of the experience when the customers see the last opportunity to speed, take dangerously tight turns and behave foolishly. It is rarely a surprise to anyone and no amount of training or documentation will help.

Causes of accidents on farms relating to overloaded bikes, dangerous speeds, driving on steep inclines, alchohol need to be addressed with the threat of prosecution or, better still safer bike design.

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

In relation to the option of a consumer safety rating system:
It worries me that the results are subject to influence from poor consumer choices, like drink driving, which isn't a reflection of the safety of the vehicles.

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 would urge the development of design standards whose outcome lowers the centre of gravity on bikes.

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

10) If the ACCC recommends a mandatory safety standard for quad bikes:
I supporting a standard that lowers the centre of gravity on bikes by some measure. This could be done in the aftermarket with spacers, but is probably not possible on all old bikes. Where possible, it is a good idea to introduce quickly. The spacers are common in the aftermarket for many brands and could be quickly developed for others.

This standard should apply to every one. Some standards might not apply to everyone, for example you'll never suffer from asphyxiation on on a supervised tourism activity, but regardless if crush vests were mandated, the tourism industry would happily adopt them.

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?
Quad Bike King changes the bike fleet every 12 or 24 months depending on the brand. I would expect that most users who use the bikes daily would see little value in sustaining them over 4 years.