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In 2020, a life-long farmer died of injuries after his quad bike rolled. Even the Fatal Accident enquiry, held and reported in 2022, could not discover a reason. His colleagues had seen his bike turn suddenly and roll. He fell heavily, and after attempting to return to work, was taken to hospital with serious chest injuries. Already a lung-disease sufferer, he died the following month.
There was no sign of the machine malfunctioning, or carelessness. The enquiry simply stated that the victim “did not position his body adequately to prevent it from overturning.”
This suggests just how quickly the four-wheelers can lose balance and roll over, catching even a careful and experienced rider unawares.
The standard quad bike, or all-terrain vehicle (ATV), used in agriculture is a one-seater designed for “active riding”, an important part of steering. In agriculture, government rules state that “Quad bikes used as light agricultural vehicles should be made with only a driver’s seat. They are not allowed to carry passengers.” They can travel over rough ground,
n By Helen Armstrong
Latest on workers’ safety news
THE DANGERS OF QUAD BIKES
Careless use of quad bikes can kill
including some slopes, making them versatile and widely used. Fast and adaptable, they are now popular as off-road leisure vehicles, able to transit public roads if legally insured and licensed for road use.
But quad bikes (including two- or four-seater SSVs) have acquired a poor safety reputation. HSE explains: “if used carelessly, [they] can rapidly become very unstable.” Fitting modern roll bars on quad bikes is not mandatory in the UK, though now under review. HSE recommends that a helmet should be worn, something likely to be considered if an accident comes to court.
Any doubts about how to use your quad bike legally should be raised with the manufacturer (directly or through the registered supplier) as they should be able to tell you what is legal for your model.
An employer using quad bikes must have employees formally trained before using the bikes, and some safety clothing, including helmets, is recommended by HSE. This includes self-employed workers, employees or sub contractors. In the event of
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an accident, insurers (and courts) will usually hold the owner/employer responsible for putting safeguards in place.
Quad bikes are widely used in leisure outdoor activities. In the UK, there are laws about what kind of quad bike children can ride. HSE recommends helmets, but this is not always observed, despite this being a powered, open and potentially unstable vehicle.
Many victims are children, who may be riding legally, but not conscious of the dangers. A two or four seater in social use can simply look like a sophisticated toy.
In 2010 a father was jailed after his 15-year-old son’s quad bike crashed, killing the passenger. The bike was reported to have been driven at “clearly excessive” speed on “totally unsuitable” terrain, “ignoring warning signs”. In other cases, suspended sentences have been handed out.
Following the death of Belfast entrepreneur Denis Lynn in May 2021, when his Quad bike rolled at low speed on his estate, his
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