Since 2011, 234 Australians have lost their lives in quad bike incidents, with men accounting for more than 80 per cent of fatalities, according to figures from SafeWork Australia.
“Quad bikes pose a serious risk of injury and death because it is easy for them to roll over, even at low speeds. When they do, riders are often trapped underneath them,” said ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh. “These heavy vehicles cause suffocation, head injuries and crush body parts.”
The people most at risk
Most quad bike deaths occur on farms, with men aged over 70 years statistically the most at-risk group – accounting for more than one in five fatalities. Children are also vulnerable: those under 14 make up more than one in 10 deaths, while children under 16 account for over a quarter of all emergency department presentations related to quad bike injuries.
To tackle this alarming trend, the ACCC’s new ‘One Ride Can Change Everything’ campaign is targeting farmers, partners, parents and carers through regional news outlets, social media, Spotify and podcasts. The message is clear: protect your loved ones.
Three golden rules for safer riding
“Quad bikes are not toys; they are powerful machines,” Keogh said.
“There are three golden rules to follow when riding quad bikes – helmet on, rollover protection fitted, and never let children ride adult quad bikes.”
The campaign also reminds rural families to be especially vigilant during the summer holiday period, when children are more likely to spend time on farms and around machinery.
Progress – and what still needs to change
While the Consumer Goods (Quad Bikes) Safety Standard has helped make newer models safer – requiring minimum stability levels, rollover protection, and clear point-of-sale warnings – the ACCC warns that hundreds of thousands of older bikes without these protections are still in use.
“The Safety Standard has resulted in many safer quad bikes being used, but there are still older models in sheds and paddocks that lack rollover protection,” Mr Keogh said. “We urge anyone with an older quad bike to invest in rollover protection. The cost is minimal compared to the cost of serious injury or a fatality.”
A continuing priority for regional safety
NSW and Queensland record the highest number of quad bike injuries and fatalities nationwide. Rollovers and collisions remain the leading causes of death across all states.
As the ACCC campaign highlights, improving safety will take time, awareness and community effort – but with vigilance, the toll of preventable injuries and deaths can be reduced.
Walter’s story
On a warm February afternoon, Walter, 73, was wrapping up a long day mustering on his cattle and sheep property 540 km west of Brisbane.
“The quad bike is the best way to navigate all the mulga trees on the property,” he said. “But after eight years of drought, I wasn’t used to so much grass. The quad bike wheels hit a clump of dirt, it rolled, and the impact bent the handlebars. I don’t recall but I assume the quad bike bounced on top of me.”
Thanks to the local Queensland Ambulance Service paramedic and the LifeFlight team, Walter was able to get to hospital quickly for life-saving treatment. He is lucky to be alive to tell his story.
“The impact left me with two punctured lungs, 22 of my 24 ribs were fractured, I had a lacerated kidney, cracked neck vertebrae and a dislocated collar bone.”
Despite the severity of his injuries, Walter has recovered well and is back on the quad bike and busy mustering again.
“Since the accident I now use a ute for checking the dams. My advice to anyone using a quad bike is to be doubly careful and ride to the conditions and your ability.”
For more, visit the ACCC Quad Bike Safety Campaign.
