ACCC seeks comment on quad bike safety review

Stakeholders have until 10 June to respond to recommendations made by an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report on safety standards for quad bikes.

In summary, the report recommends that within 12 months, all quad bikes supplied in Australia must:

• meet the US or EN standard
• have a rollover warning label affixed
• include rollover safety information in the owner's manual
• have vehicle stability information at the point of sale.

The report also recommends that within two years, all Australian sold general-use model quad bikes (not including sport or youth and transition models) must meet minimum stability requirements and have operator protection devices integrated or fitted to the vehicles.

The proposed safety standard would only apply to the future supply of quad bikes.

The ACCC has also recommended state and territory ministers with responsibility for WHS be contacted to consider complementary regulatory measures, including:

• measures that increase the use of helmets and other protective equipment
• education campaigns that encourage seatbelt use on side-by-side vehicles
• prohibiting children from riding on adult-sized quad bikes
• prohibiting passengers on single-seat quad bikes
• continuing current quad bike safety rebates and education initiatives
• improving quad bike data collection.

You can read the report and make a submission at consultation.accc.gov.au until 5pm, 10 June 2019.

Further information

More information on quad bike safety is at worksafe.qld.gov.au