Quad bikes are great to have on the farm. They can't do everything, but they get you around and help with projects a lot of the time. Keep yourself safe by following these safety tips!
What are Quad Bikes?
Quad bikes are motorized sit-astride vehicles that travel on four low pressure tires and can be ridden by a single operator.
They have handles for steering control, as well as seats designed to fit the rider straddling it! Quad Bikes aren't meant to carry passengers because if used outside their intended purpose they may become unstable very quickly.
Common Hazards
The most common causes of death due to Quad bikes are:
* Being thrown off the vehicle during a crash or loss of control, which can result in either serious injury.
* You could also get crushed by your own machine if you were caught under it when it overturned.
* Pedestrians being struck by quad bikes.
Other factors can contribute to the causes of accidents and injuries, for example:
* Lack of formal operator training and/or experience.
* Incorrect/lack of appropriate head protection.
* Excessive speed, age (of the operator), carrying a passenger, unbalanced loads or overloading.
* Tipping on a bank, ditch, rut or bump combined with other factors like poor ground conditions while towing excessive loads without braked equipment.
* Poor maintenance including faulty brakes as well as incorrect tyre pressures.
Maintenance check
Per the UK's Highway Code, Quad bikes that have been in use for more than three years must pass an MOT if they are to be used on public roads. This means having safety features like hazard warning lights , brakes and speedometers installed . Whoever is driving requires a full car licence or motorcycle category B1 license; additionally, the vehicle needs at least third party insurance before it can be ridden off-road. However, even when riding primarily off road - say out of town with your friends as opposed to over hilltops near traffic intersections - there are various checks one should conduct prior every ride:
- Tyre pressure
- Front and rear brakes
- Steering
- Fuel level
- Oil level
Tyres
A quad bike is a powerful motorbike that can be used both on and off the road. As such, it requires careful consideration when you're choosing its tyres to ensure they are suitable for your intended use of the vehicle. Quad bikes typically come with three numbers (for example 25×8-12) embossed into their tyre as an identifier but each number has a meaning - height, width and rim size respectively.
An important aspect of quad bike safety is ensuring you have the correct tyres fitted because these will determine how well suited they are for different terrains like dirt tracks or highways where vehicles travel at high speeds all day long!
Some riders are willing to sacrifice off-road performance for the sake of safety by running road-legal tyres only. These may be less expensive and offer better fuel efficiency than their all terrain counterparts, but they will not handle as well on rough roads or terrains that require a lot of maneuvering.
Personal protective equipment
Quad bikes are not fitted with either a cab or roll bar, so your only protection is what you wear. Head protection is vital.
Don't forget to always wear a helmet when riding on your Quad Bike - I know it's the law already but just in case we all need another reminder! After all Quad bikes can be dangerous and if they're ridden without safety precautions such as helmets.
Clothing
It's common sense that you need to dress appropriately for the weather, but did you know there are some extra steps in dressing if your plans involve a Quad?
Wear sturdy boots or wellingtons with good wet grip. Gloves and handlebar muffs can also help provide protection from cold hands in colder weather!
Roll-over protective structures (ROPS)
The HSENI advises that roll-over protective structures (ROPS or crush protection devices) are not recommended for Quad bikes.
Research has shown that they may lead to an increased risk of injury in the event of overturn by preventing the operator from separating from the machine, and striking them as overturned. Lap straps should not be fitted either because without a cab it's potentially lethal if these restraints don't work properly.
So what is the most important safety precaution when you’re riding a quad bike?
The answer, of course, is that it should have weather cabs. These are specially designed to protect riders in case they become entangled and fall off while going over rough terrain or if their vehicle overturns unexpectedly. The cab's design also prevents them from being crushed by staying within the flipped-over machine unless it has been specifically built for such situations (and these machines cost quite a bit more than your average utility model).
Children and Quad bikes
Quad bikes must always be ridden with the correct protection, only properly trained people should ride a quad bike within an age range of 16 years or older. Passengers including small children should never even go near one of these things because they could cause severe injury to those on board which would lead to tragic consequences like a fatal accident.
Parking
If you have to park your quad bike on a slope, always try parking across it unless the hill is too steep.
A terrible accident can happen if there are no brakes and the weight of cargo makes them start moving down a sloped area.
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