Safety authorities have again issued warnings about one of Australia’s most dangerous vehicles – quad bikes.

Three people have died in quad bike incidents in Western Australia alone this year, prompting a joint warning from Consumer Protection and WorkSafe WA about the dangers of these off-road vehicles.

According to Safe Work Australia, the incidents were as follows:

  • A 6 year old boy died in a rollover on a farming property near Southern Cross on April 20
  • A 67 year old man died in a collision while working on a farming property near Bruce Rock on April 27
  • A man in his 40’s died in a collision in sand dunes near Lancelin on August 3

Across Australia, there were 15 deaths from quad bike accidents in the last year.

Nationally, a total of 213 deaths have been reported between January 2001 and July 2015 during both recreational and work use.

Given the relatively low amount of quad bikes in operation, they carry a startlingly high rate of casualty.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said quad bikes are now the leading cause of fatal accidents on farms in Australia.

“Quad bike-related deaths are associated with a wide range of work activities in agriculture and horticulture,” Mr McCulloch said.

“Quad bikes can readily roll over and cause serious injury or death to operators, particularly when used on uneven terrain, at high speed or when carrying heavy or uneven loads. Accidents can also happen when the tyres are under-inflated or inflated unevenly.

“Many of the deaths and injuries are caused by crushing between the quad bike and the ground or other surface, while others occur when operators are flung onto hard surfaces in a crash.

“We urge quad bike operators to educate themselves about the safe operation of these vehicles before using them, and to follow the advice we have issued and which is widely available online.”

The authorities put out the following list of key tips for staying safe on quad bikes:

Prepare safe

  • Ensure you are properly trained before you ride a quad bike
  • Maintain the bike so it is in safe condition
  • Read the operator manual and observe the manufacturer's safety warnings and recommendations for use
  • Always tell someone of your expected location before leaving for a quad bike ride

Wear safe

  • Always wear a motor cycle helmet
  • Wear protective clothing and gear such as goggles, long sleeves, long pants, boots and gloves/hand protection

Ride safe

  • Never let children under 16 ride quad bikes that are meant for adults – even as passengers
  • Do not carry any passengers on quad bikes that are meant for one person
  • Quad bikes are not all-terrain vehicles so they cannot go safely on all types of terrain. Avoid riding on rough surfaces or steep slopes
  • Ride on familiar tracks and beware of obstacles
  • Never ride under the influence of alcohol/drugs
  • Ensure children are supervised at all times near any quad bike activity
  • Always carry a mobile phone or radio device so you can contact help in case of an emergency