NSW could review quad bikes laws after fourth fatality in a fortnight
22/3/2017
A man in his 70s was found trapped under a quad bike on a property near Orange on Thursday afternoon. The fatality is the fifth quad bike death in NSW this year. Geoff McKechnie the Assistant Police Commissioner issued a plea for increased caution when riding quad bikes. He said while they served as a good vehicle for farmers, some people did not understand the machines limits.
A tragic fourth quad bike related death in NSW in only 2 weeks has put pressure on the government to act fast to prioritise legislation that will improve safety.A man in his 70s was found trapped under a quad bike on a property near Orange on Thursday afternoon. The fatality is the fifth quad bike death in NSW this year.
Geoff McKechnie the Assistant Police Commissioner issued a plea for increased caution when riding quad bikes. He said while they served as a good vehicle for farmers, some people did not understand the machines limits.
"It's not about an enforcement message today, it's more a safety message asking people to be careful when they are using these machines"
"It's terribly sad for the people involved and the families of these people who have lost their lives recently on quad bikes"
"We know the impact that these types of fatalities have on families and extended families and communities." Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries ATV manager Mark Collins said the latest fatality was a tragic reminder that urgent action was needed.
"I would like to hope those unfortunate people might be the impetus that we need for the Government to act," Mr Collins said.
"I don't know whether that will happen, but we look forward to that place and time when some of these changes are made."
In an announcement last week the New South Wales Government indicated that it would double the available rebates for equipment that increased the safety on quad bikes. This comes amid calls to make rollover protection devices compulsory.
"We're determined to do all we can and that's why we've doubled the rebates available to improve safety on the land," NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
"We need to bring about cultural change in the community and change people's attitudes towards the use of quad bikes. These things are not toys."
He declined to say whether the Government would look at mandating licences, seat belts and helmets, which were recommended as part of a previous coronial inquest.
