Tas coroner pushes for ATV reforms

A Tasmanian coronial inquest into seven ATV fatalities in the state has recommended a wide variety of regulatory reforms be made concerning the vehicles' use to prevent further deaths and serious injury.

Handing down his findings on Friday, October 25, Coroner Simon Hooper recommended that the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute consider the mandatory introduction of training and licencing for ATV riders, along with the mandatory use of approved helmets by ATV riders.

Mr Hooper also recommended that the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and state and commonwealth industrial safety authorities consider instituting a safety and design standard for ATVs, similar to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in North America, and that the ANSI standard be adopted until a local framework is in place.

Other recommendations include:
• That children under the age of 16 be prohibited from riding adult-sized quad bikes
• That children aged between six and 16 only be permitted to ride 'youth' quad bikes appropriate for their age
• That children aged under six be prohibited from riding an ATV under any circumstance
• That pillions only ride on ATVs specifically designed for pillion use
• That a star rating system be developed to assist consumers pondering an ATV purchase
• That Tasmania Police liaise with other state authorities to develop a standardised approach for the investigation of serious ATV-related accidents, to help improve ATV rider training and accident investigation on an ongoing basis

The findings largely mirror those of similar recent coronial inquests into ATV-related deaths held in Queensland and New South Wales.

The FCAI's CEO, Tony Weber, welcomed the Tasmanian coroner's findings.

"Helmet wearing is one of the industry's most important safety messages for ATV riders, as helmets are known to be the most effective safety device for 'ride-on' type vehicles like ATVs and motorcycles," he said.

The Tasmanian inquest found that four out of the seven deaths could well have been prevented had the riders been wearing an approved helmet, like the recently released Shark X16 ATV helmet.

The FCAI also agreed with the Coroner's recommendation on ATV rider training, the body calling on the adoption of the Speciality Vehicle Institute of America ATV course, and on prohibiting children under 16 from riding adult ATVs, along with the development of a national ATV standard.

Like the Queensland and New South Wales inquests, the Tasmanian inquest found there was inconclusive evidence to support the case for the fitment of Crush Protection Devices (CPDs), also known as Roll Over Protection Structures (ROPS).

"I am satisfied that it is quite clear on the evidence that it would be inappropriate, and not justifiable, to make any recommendation with respect to the fitment of any operator protection device to quad bikes," he said.

Click here to view the coronial inquest's findings for yourself.