Summer is a time of festivities and outdoor activities with the family, but if you’re jumping on a quad bike to get to your favourite swimming hole, or cutting through the paddocks to get to a neighbour’s place to share a pavlova, then there are a few things you need to remember.
While quad bikes are compact, fairly easy to ride and can travel into areas where other vehicles may struggle, they also have their downsides. The high centre of gravity makes them prone to roll over, especially when carrying loads, and collisions with hidden obstacles are common.
Before you, your workers or your family ride a quad bike this summer, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure you are all ride ready.
Ask yourself if a quad bike is the best vehicle for the task. Think about the terrain, weather conditions and the task. Would a different vehicle such as a side-by-side vehicle be a better choice, especially if you need to carry passengers or loads?
Helmets: A helmet is the best protection you can have from a head injury, which happens in one out of every five quad bike incidents. It makes sense to be prepared for the unexpected.
Doubling: Never carry passengers on a single-seat quad bike. Quad bikes with one seat are designed to carry one person only and will be a lot more unstable and harder to handle if you attempt to carry an uneven rider weight.
Kids on kid-sized quad bikes: Don’t let your kids ride adult bikes. They don’t have the physical strength to handle a quad bike weighing 300kg or more. Sadly, twenty per cent of all national quad bike deaths are children under 16 years old.
Loads and attachments: Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when fitting and using quad bike accessories to carry something or towing an attachment. The more you load up your bike, the more difficult it will be to handle and the more likely it will be to roll on a slope.
Training: Have you had training? Training courses are the best way to learn how to ride a quad bike using an active riding technique and ensure you can recognise and control the hazards and risks in varying terrain.
For more rider tips, visit www.qld.gov.au/rideready