NSW Farmers: Zero quad bike deaths and injuries by 2022

On March 5 a six-year-old girl died in a quad bike crash at Pilliga. A 13-year-old girl who was also on the same quad bike suffered serious head injuries. On the same day a Sofala man, 60, died in a quad bike accident and just last Saturday another man at Blandford also lost his life.

My thoughts are with the loved ones of the accident victims.

Quads are for many farmers an essential vehicle but the dangers they pose should not be underestimated. The same care and attention should be given to riding a quad bike as you would give to getting behind the wheel of an on-road vehicle.

NSW Farmers is part of a quad bike safety action group, aiming for zero deaths and injuries by 2022.

We were pleased to learn about the NSW Government’s doubling of quad bike safety rebates.

Farmers can now apply for a $1000 rebate for the purchase of a side-by-side vehicle, $500 for the retrofitting of safety equipment to an existing quad bike, and $90 for the purchase of an approved helmet.

Farmers can also use the rebate twice if they have more than one quad bike or if they wish to purchase two side-by-side vehicles.To qualify for the rebates, farmers are required to complete the online course, do a quad bike safety course, or interact with a SafeWork NSW officer.

NSW Farmers administers the rebates. Please see our website (nswfarmers.org.au) for more details.

Meantime a new, 12-minute, online presentation at www.safework.nsw.gov.au has been launched, giving easy access to important information.

We hope farmers will take advantage of the rebates and the safety information to prevent any more quad bike related deaths from occurring on farm.