Working harder to improve ATV safety

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Joint approach to ATV safety

4th Nov 10, 7:04pm by Tony Chaston

Agriculture's record of accidents with ATV is poor, and any initative to help improve this is valuable.

The four major points of the campaign all seem sensible and most farmers will have no trouble adhering to them, but research into antiroll systems and personal locator beacons are good ideas that should be followed up.

ATV have been a major inovation in farm transport and the uses operators find for them never ceases to amaze. More research on the design for farm use by a NZ university would seem a credible project that may help reduce future accidents.

Federated Farmers is backing the Department of Labour's (DoL) launch of a campaign to raise awareness of quad bike/ATV safety. The event was launched at the Mystery Creek Events Centre today by the Minister of Labour, the Hon Kate Wilkinson MP.

"It's been a while since we had a coordinated ATV safety programme like this and it's most welcome," says Donald Aubrey, Federated Farmers Vice-President. "The lesson we've learnt is that safety education is not a one-off exercise, due to the natural turnover of farm workers. It needs to be on-going just like it is with road safety. "Like with road safety we see it as education and training led. Prosecution, the ultimate DoL sanction, is like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. This is about preventing accidents occurring in the first place.

"ATV's have become the farmer's ‘Swiss Army knife', being horse, trail bike and light tractor all in one. This multi-use nature of ATV's can see them pushed beyond their design limits. "Yet, we must ensure that recreational and tourism operators heed these messages as well. While ATV's are farm implements, a majority of ATV accidents aren't farm work related.

"The campaign has four major points. First, users must be trained and experienced in an ATV's use. Second, the right vehicle must be chosen for the right job - it's about knowing limits. Third, helmets are a life-saver and fourthly, children should not ride adult ATV's."These are consistent messages carried in the Quad Bike Safety Guide, which was developed by ACC and endorsed by the Agricultural Health and Safety Council.

"On top of this, Federated Farmers is on the lookout for new initiatives. We've started this by raising the profile of Personal Locator Beacons for those working in remote locations. "We're also looking at taking to the DoL, a proposal to trial rollover warning systems developed by an American company that fits with our type of typography. Such a system could overcome a loss of balance revealed in an Otago University study, when riding over rough terrain.

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11 Comments

by Casual Observer | 4th Nov 10, 8:55pm 1288857342

a majority of ATV accidents aren't farm work related.

A key statement.

One get rather tired of increases in ACC levies for farmers because of non farm work related accidents.

I have seen first-hand the value of a T-roll bar on an ATV. I'm a firm advocate of them, and while they are not considered to be necessary by the powers-that-be, I will continue to have one.

by MG4 | 15th Nov 10, 11:50am 1289775001

I've heard rollbars can be like a guillotine if you get caught under it.

What about using dual wheels ?

They make a big difference to the stability of the bike and give better traction when its wet.

by Belle | 4th Nov 10, 9:27pm 1288859256

Some interesting ideas here. I like the idea of locator beacons. Good to hear positive ideas. Recently there has been much debate on talkback, and much criticism of farmers. I find this maddening. Go back in history a short way and we were all riding horses, or taking tractors into ridiculous places. ATVs have been much safer than both. To this date, my own experience with horses resulted in broken parts and regular bruising a wrecked back and stuffed neck. ATV zippo (some close calls though). So heh lets remember how great those ATVs are, they have probably saved more lives than they have lost. They get you there faster, and carry hordes of stuff. They dont buck as frequently, they dont see the open gate and make a break for freedom. They dont bite, they dont purposely head for the gate post to whack your leg off, or turn for home and bolt. Hop off your bike its usually there when you get back, cant say the same when you drop the reins. The ATV is a bloody good mate, and a damn sight safer than the alternative. Lastly a bike is easier to catch.

by Belle | 4th Nov 10, 10:12pm 1288861973

My husbands argument, and I have to admit there are valid points here; the horse can watch the trail ahead while you watch and work the dogs. Horses get tired but they dont actually run outa gas. Some of the more trickier parts of NZ are really only suited to hooves not tyres. When its really cold, the horse can keep you warm. When its really warm the horse doesnt burn your leg. Horses and leather really do smell better than oil and petrol. Horses stand up to mad cattle a little better. You can fit the whole family on a big horse. Its not illegal yet to put a child on a horse. (maybe it should be I say) Horses replicate, you dont have to pay $15k for a new one. OSH isnt on its hobby horse about horses. It can be easier to kick start a horse than a motorbike....(or not, I say it can be dangerous kick starting a horse). Anyway theres some thoughts for the night. Personally I will stick with Honda

by Casual Observer | 6th Nov 10, 12:42pm 1289000548

Interesting comments for the 4 legged horse Belle. I, like you, prefer the petrol version. :-)

by Andrewj | 6th Nov 10, 1:11pm 1289002305

Love to see ACC figures for Horse injuries. When I was young farmers all seemed to talk about the injury caused by a horse. Personally nothing thats lasted to middle age but been kicked,ploughed into the ground, worst was a bite, its when you know the bugger and relax and they spook at a thistle that gets me. 4 wheelers- just a shoulder injury and I suspect the sitting position is bad for you back, biggest crouch with 4 wheelers is staff use them to go everywhere and dont need legs anymore,they use way too much fuel and have got expensive so I run 2 wheelers in conjunction and keep the 4 wheelers longer. Children all ride horses, 10 broken bones so far youngest in a cast at present.

by Belle | 8th Nov 10, 7:45pm 1289198752

So the nanny brigade want us to get licenses, for gods sake what will they dream up next for us poor sods. Nappies in case we get a fright and crap ourselves.

by Belle | 8th Nov 10, 7:47pm 1289198822

So the nanny brigade want us to get licenses, for gods sake what will they dream up next for us poor sods. Nappies in case we get a fright and crap ourselves.

by MG4 | 15th Nov 10, 11:56am 1289775390

To those of you who use dual wheels on your ATV for more stability and better traction - what do reckon - Do they need to be another option for the campaign for ATV safety to investigate?

by Casual Observer | 15th Nov 10, 1:06pm 1289779561

MG4 - I am talking about a T bar fitted on the back of the bike, not a full width front and back roll bar. All I know is that in our family and others the T bar has been a definite useful addition when accidents have occurred. To be guillotined by one of them when they are not much wider than your neck, would make you extremely unlucky. I know of a couple of cases when folks have literally lost their head when riding at speed down a laneway/race and not seeing a wire (not tape) strung across it. One was on a two wheeler and one was on an ATV.

I heard most ATV accidents happened on flat ground, not hills, like many believe, but if someone has the numbers to prove me wrong, no problem.

As to duals - on a flat farm the cost of putting duals on wouldn't make economic sense. But I can't talk for those who don't farm on the flat. A family friend died when driving on flat ground and hit a hole in the paddock. It was enough to flip him and cause serious head injuries which he died several weeks later from.

I would like to see the numbers of work related atv accident stats and non work related atv accidents.

Horses cause more claims on ACC than atvs but for some reason injuries resulting from horse injuries/deaths don't make the same headlines.

AJs I agree re 2 wheelers - there are more and more farmers using/considering two wheelers now, especially if they employ staff.

by MG4 | 15th Nov 10, 1:35pm 1289781333

Not sure how much duals cost, but a life must be worth more, whether the accident was on hills or on the flat! Even just repairs to your bike can be a few thousand; let alone the wheelchair, mobility van, hoist for lifting me, support person .....