University develops safety ratings for ATVs

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has weighed into the ATV rollover protection debate in Australia as part of a quad bike (ATV) performance project aimed at developing a safety rating system for vehicles used in workplaces, including farms.

The project focused squarely on developing a safety rating system for stability, handling and crashworthiness for vehicles used in workplaces and on farms, where most deaths (59 percent) result from chest injuries and asphyxiation. This differs from recreational use, where the main cause of death (49 percent) is head injuries.

More than 1000 tests were carried out at the Roads and Maritime Services world-standard Crashlab facility near Sydney. The researchers tested and rated ATVs and compared them to side-by-side vehicles (SSVs).

The final ATVAP Star Rating for the 16 production vehicles tested is in the second attached image. The maximum rating score is out of 85 points, and from one to five stars. Four Star ratings were achieved by four of the five SSVs: Tomcar TM2 (65pts), John Deere XUV825i (62pts), the Honda MUV700 Big Red (62pts) and the Kubota RTV500 (59pts). Three Star ratings were achieved by the Yamaha Rhino SSV (50pts), and two of the recreational ATVs: the Honda TRX700XX (38pts) and the Can-Am DS90X (37pts). Two Star Ratings were achieved by all the other ATVs (28-32pts).

READ THE SUMMARY REPORT HERE

Some key findings from the UNSW project are:
•    An average of 15 deaths per year on ATVs in Australia occurred over the past decade. This is now rising to around 20 per year;
•    In work/farm related deaths, 78 percent of riders were older than 50;
•    Well-designed SSVs have higher rollover resistance, better handling and lower severe injury risk than quad bikes if users wear helmets and restraints;
•    ATVs without a rollover protection system have a limited ability to prevent serious injuries in both low- and high-speed rollovers; and
•    ATV designs can be improved for increased stability and dynamic handling.

Lead researcher, UNSW Professor Raphael Grzebieta, says the introduction of a safety rating system similar to that employed by the car industry could see major improvements in vehicle design and safety and a “likely reduction in the number of quad–bike deaths and injuries on farms”.

“Manufacturers seem to accept that the number of quad bike-related deaths and injuries is inevitable, but we absolutely do not,” said Professor Grzebieta. “A safety rating system would allow consumers to dictate through their purchasing power the design changes they want to see manufacturers make.”

Over the last year, coronial inquests in New South Wales and Queensland have been investigating the circumstances that led to a combined 17 deaths. Professor Grzebieta and his co-authors from the UNSW Transport and Road Safety Research Centre were key witnesses at the inquests and their findings informed the recommendations delivered on August 3 in Queensland..

“The real game-changing outcome of this research is that people who use quad-bikes on farms are now viewing side-by-side vehicles, which are considerably safer, as viable alternatives,” continued Professor Grzebieta. “In terms of stability a quad-bike is like driving a heavy truck over rough terrain and trying to stay upright. A side-by-side vehicle is more like driving an SUV over rough terrain. It’s easier to see what the safer choice is.”

Professor Rechnitzer, the research project manager, says OHS professionals and safety management need to recognise that quad-bikes have severe limitations in terms of stability, rollover protection for riders and load capacity.

“Safer vehicles such as well-designed SSVs are much less demanding in operator skill, offer greater stability and rider protection, and should be evaluated and considered for the workplace as an alternative to the quad-bike,” he says.

One of the other key recommendations from the project is an immediate ban on children under the age of 16 riding adult vehicles.

“There’s still a view in the farm sector that this is okay,” says Professor Grzebieta. “These laws need to be changed to impose some kind of penalty on parents who willingly allow their children to operate adult quad-bikes. Too often we’ve seen children asphyxiated and crushed underneath these vehicles.”

The Queensland Coroner has called for the adoption of a consumer safety rating system, and recommended that the state government introduce legislation to “prohibit children under the age of 16 from operating adult-sized quad-bikes and side-by-side vehicles” and “from being carried as passengers on adult-sized sit-astride quad-bikes”.

The results of the NSW coronial inquest are due out later this year.

Since 2001, more than 210 Australians have died in ATV incidents. Of the 23 deaths recorded in 2011, 18 occurred on farms, making ATVs the leading cause of injury and death on Australian farms.

Bikesales has contacted the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries for comment on the UNSW study. Previoulsy, the FCAI has opposed the fitment of rollover protection for ATVs, and has instead pushed for raising the awareness of riders through a combination of factors such as appropriate training, wearing a helmet, not carrying more than the prescribed number of passengers, not allowing children on adult size ATVs, using the appropriate vehicle for the task, and not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.