Quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles

Quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles are great farming vehicles but they aren't without their dangers. Follow these steps to ensure you stay safe.

Quad bikes

On farms, quad bikes are a useful vehicle – but they can also be dangerous.

Since 2001, there have been more than 240 deaths in Australia from quad bike incidents. In NSW, there are about two deaths a year. And, sometimes, one of them is a child.

Side-by-side vehicles

A side-by-side vehicle (SSV) is more stable than a quad bike. It comes fitted with a steering wheel, seat belts and rollover protection, and has a higher load capacity.

You can still get seriously injured or even killed riding an SSV, if you don't follow the manufacturer's instructions or use the seat belts.

Before buying a vehicle for your farm, see the pre-purchase checklist to make sure you choose the right one.

Farmers' stories

Derek Schoen, a farmer from Corowa and former president of the NSW Farmers Association, is a great believer in using an SSV rather than a quad bike.

Robert Hood, a farmer from Meadow Flat, talks about his near-fatal quad bike incident. He now uses an SSV.

Safety tips

Choose the right vehicle for the job.
Get free training.
Wear an approved helmet.
Wear personal protective equipment, such as goggles and sturdy footwear.
Have an OPD fitted to your quad bike – they are fitted to all SSVs.
Make sure someone knows where you're going – carry a mobile phone.
Look out for obstacles (a drone might help).
If under 16, never drive a quad bike nor be a passenger in one.

Rebates

If you own or operate a farm in NSW, or work on one, you may be eligible for a safety rebate.

As an owner or operator, you'll be eligible for two rebates totalling up to $2000. You'll get a rebate of up to:

$2000 to buy an SSV
$600 for an OPD
$500 for a drone
$90 for a helmet.

As a worker, you'll get a $90 rebate towards the purchase of a helmet.

Eligibility

To find out if you're eligible and to apply for the rebate, visit the NSW Farmers Association.

Before you apply, you must:

We've partnered with Tocal College to deliver free one-day training events in regional and remote locations across NSW. The training is popular. Book today.

Facts and stats

In NSW, there are about two deaths a year as a result of quad bike incidents.
Over 60 per cent of quad bike fatalities are due to rollover.
About 30 per cent of quad bike fatalities involve head injuries.
About 40 per cent of serious injuries from quad bike incidents involve a traumatic head injury.
Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of fatality in a quad bike incident by 40 per cent.
Adult quad bikes weigh up to 400kg; child-size quad bikes weigh up to 120kg.

Susan, a paediatric surgeon, says combining kids and quad bikes is a 'deadly mix'.

Research

Researchers from the Transport and Road Safety Unit at the University of NSW discuss the results from their 1000-odd tests involving a range of quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles.

Quad bike safety improvement program

Following the introduction of the quad bike safety improvement program, an assessment of the awareness, attitudes and behaviours of NSW farmers towards quad bikes, SSVs and related matters shows:

quad bikes are being used less frequently and more carefully
fewer farmers are planning to replace their quad bikes
more farmers are switching to SSVs – the use of SSVs has increased by 12 per cent since 2017
awareness of safety options, such as OPDs, has increased.

Read the full report.