Ministry needs recreational quad bike focus

Farmers are taking quad bike safety seriously, but the latest incident in the Hawke’s Bay, again highlights this message is not getting through to recreational users.

“Recreational users, quad bikes and alcohol are a cocktail for disaster,” says Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers spokesperson for health and safety.

“While many farmers are heeding the safety message, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment need to find a better way to convey safety when it comes to recreational users.

“The tragic death following Christmas was recreational in nature as was the latest incident in the Hawke’s Bay.  The Hawke’s Bay one seemingly involved alcohol as well.

“Having again fielded a number of media calls, there is an unhelpful assumption all quad bike accidents are farm related.  In 2012 there appears to have been two recreational fatalities involving quad bikes and this recreational toll is a concern.

“The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment needs to look at how it is communicating safety messages to casual quad bike users.  Frankly, no one should be using a quad bike without the appropriate training and not all quad bikes are designed to carry two people.

“If an untrained person wants to use a quad bike then they must seek training and become proficient in its use.  It really is as simple as that.

“But given the number of quad bikes on-farm are similar to the number of road going motorcycles, we also need a degree of perspective,” Mrs Maxwell concluded.