A new kind of helmet could be the key to reducing quad bike deaths.

Quad bikes remain one of the most dangerous vehicles in Australia, having been linked to over 200 deaths in the past 15 years.

In Queensland, new laws have made helmets mandatory on public roads and stock routes, while children under the age of eight are banned from riding as passengers.

In New South Wales, the ALP is pushing for anyone under 16 to be banned from using quad bikes.

FarmSafe Queensland executive director Jamie Cupples spoke about all-terrain vehicle (ATV) safety as part of National Farm Safety Week.

“It's probably been the premier issue now for 10 years, it's been debated I guess at length for a long time,” he told the ABC.

“Unfortunately, we really haven't got a resolution to it at the present, we've got some states doing some things, and we've got others doing less or different things, and there's no consistency about what we're doing across the country.

“These vehicles are used privately, they're used on properties, they're used all over the place.

“We don't advocate [regulation], we certainly think there should be an awareness about the children on bikes, particularly under 16s, but not necessarily regulating that issue.”

Most helmets currently available to farmers are full-head covering, which are not well suited to a full day’s riding or mustering.

But new helmets based on firefighting equipment from New Zealand company PacFire could change that.

The helmets are made of Kevlar, weigh around a kilogram, feature air vents and sun protection, and already meet New Zealand standards.

“They've been widely used over there on quad bikes, I believe there's some five or six thousand of them out and about in the community over there now,” Mr Cupples said.

“It's something that we're trying to get Transport to look at to see if they'll endorse that for quad bike use here in Queensland.”

Transport and Main Roads says the availability of the helmet rests with Standards Australia.