NEW quad bikes can only be sold with a roll bar in an effort to ensure rider safety, but one south-west farming group says rider behaviour is the main cause of quad bike accidents.
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As of Monday all new and and imported second hand quad bikes across Australia can only be sold with the safety device to reduce the risk of serious crush injuries and deaths in the event of a rollover.
Farmer Power chief executive officer Garry Kerr said safety on farms was always crucial but quad bike accidents happened when the rider didn't follow the safety instructions.
"For a long time people wouldn't wear seatbelts and the Australian public had it drummed into them on the reasons why we need to," he said.
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Mr Kerr said unfortunately a large proportion of quad bike accidents involved older riders or children.
"It comes back to people's common sense," he said.
"And you can't legislate against stupidity."
And you can't legislate against stupidity.
- Garry Kerr
Mr Kerr said there was also research showing the dangers of side-by-side vehicles.
"Since 2011 sadly 150 people have died from quad bike accidents nationally, 23 of those were children," she said.
"Nearly two-thirds of quad bike related deaths are caused by a rollover, and three quarters of deaths occur on a farm."
In 2019 the federal government introduced new safety standards which include improved information for potential purchasers, enhanced quad bike stability and rollover protection to reduce injuries and deaths.
