August 6, 2015
The Deputy Coroner investigating the death of Durong resident Zoe McInnes in 2013 – and eight other Queensland quad bike riders between 2012 and 2014 – released the results from the second phase of his hearings this week.
Last September, Deputy State Coroner John Lock released his findings into the circumstances surrounding each particular death.
He then moved into Phase 2 of his inquiry, which considered various preventative measures suggested as ways of improving quad bike safety.
Quad bike accidents are the leading cause of death on Queensland rural properties; between 160 and 200 deaths involving quad bikes have occurred in Australia over the past 11 years.
The Deputy Coroner considered 10 issues:
1. Whether existing quad bike training can be improved, standardised and participation more effectively encouraged
2. Whether a mandatory licence or certification scheme should be introduced
3. Whether an Australian Standard should be introduced for quad-bike specific helmets
4. Whether wearing a helmet when operating a quad bike should be mandatory
5. Whether children under 16 years should be prohibited from riding adult-sized quad bikes as operators and passengers
6. Whether carriage of passengers on quad bikes designed for single operators only should be prohibited
7. Whether the installation of a crush protection device or a rollover occupant protection system is an effective way to minimise deaths from quad bike rollovers
8. If so, whether the installation of such devices and systems could be more effectively encouraged or mandated, where appropriate
9. Whether an Australian Design Rule of Australian Standard based on the American National Standard (ANSI-1-2010) should be mandated for the manufacture, import and supply of quad bikes in Australia
10. Whether the introduction of a star rating system (similar to the Australian New Car Assessment program) would assist consumers to choose quad bikes that are fit for purpose and to further encourage safety innovation by industry
Information from 30 agencies and organisations was collected and 18 stakeholders gave evidence.
Deputy Coroner Lock released 15 recommendations for quad bikes and side-by-side ATVs which included:
- Developing a nationally approved quad bike training package and then making the training compulsory through a certification or licensing scheme
- Introducing an Australian Standard for quad bike helmets and then making the wearing of them mandatory
- Banning children under 16 from operating adult-sized quad bikes
- Banning children aged between 6 and 16 from operating youth-sized bikes that are not specified by the manufacturer for their age
- Banning passengers from being carried on quad bikes (other than those specifically designed for a passenger)
- Developing an Australian Standard or similar for quad bike crush protection devices
- Developing an Australian Standard for quad bike design
- Developing a star system for rating safety
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