Quad Bike safety
Keep safe on quad bikes
While quad bikes are great farming vehicles, farm owners and operators must be aware that quad bikes are high risk vehicles and are not safe for use in all terrains or for all tasks. Pushing a quad bike beyond its limitations could have deadly consequences. To ensure safety:
- choose the right vehicle for the job (it might not be a quad bike)
- install a roll bar / operator protective device
- make sure everyone is trained to safely operate a quad bike
- choose the safest route – look out for obstacles
- protect your head – always wear a helmet
- regularly check tyre pressure
- no kids under 16 on adult-sized quad bikes
- tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
Download the keep safe quad bikes poster (PDF, 117.12 KB)
Quad bikes are the biggest killer on Australian farms
Since 2001, there have been more than 280 deaths in Australia from quad bike incidents.
The main cause of serious injury and death is from quad bike roll over.
Rollover can occur suddenly, even at low speeds and on flat terrain, putting the operator at risk of injury or death from being thrown from the vehicle, trapped, or crushed beneath it.
Understand the contributors to roll over
| Challenging terrain | You should |
|---|---|
| Rocky, steep, uneven, sandy or muddy terrain |
Look out for rocks, holes, fallen branches, uneven ground and other obstacles. If you can’t see what the ground conditions are like, get off and walk around the area before you drive over it. A drone might help |
| Passengers | You should |
|
Carrying passengers on quad bikes designed for one person:
|
Never carry passengers on a quad bike designed for one person |
| Towing | You should |
|
Using a quad bike to tow a trailer that is too heavy, too big, or with an incompatible center of gravity can contribute to:
|
Follow the load limits stated in the owner’s manual |
| Carrying loads | You should |
|
Carrying a heavy or unstable load (like chemicals for spraying) can:
|
Balance the load and keep it low Make sure the load is securely strapped down Use internal baffles in tanks for liquids and makes sure they are properly sealed Follow the load limits stated in the owner’s manual |
| Tyre pressure | You should |
| Tyres that are under inflated or unevenly inflated impacts traction and stability | Take a few seconds to check the tyre pressure before start-up and during use– follow the tyre pressure instructions in the owner’s manual |
| Attachments | You should |
| Using attachments that are not suitable for your quad bike can reduce the stability, operator control and overall performance of the vehicle | Before purchasing attachments, ensure they are suitable for use with your quad bike – follow the attachment instructions in the owner’s manual |
Protect yourself and your workers from crush related injuries in the event of a roll over – install a roll bar.
Install a Roll bar
An operator protective device (OPD), also referred to as a crush protection device (CPD) or roll bar, is an engineered attachment that is fitted to a quad bike.
They are designed to help protect riders from crush related injuries from the weight of the quad bike in the event of a rollover.
Quad Bar Flexi
ATV Lifeguard
Make sure everyone goes home safe at the end of the day. Roll bars save lives. Insist that all your quad bikes have them installed.
More information
SafeWork NSW's Quad bike and side-by-side vehicle page.