Citation

Fragar L, Lower T. J. Australas. Coll. Road Saf. 2010; 21(4): 22-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Australasian College of Road Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In rural communities, motor transport features as a leading cause of on-farm fatalities. The most common agents of injury are quad bikes, farm utilities and two-wheeled motorcycles. This paper describes the current status of knowledge and action in safety associated with on-farm motor vehicle transport, and provides recommendations to reduce this injury burden. While farm transport has benefited from improvements in design features associated with on-road vehicles, there are specific design approaches that will further enhance safety – for example, minimising the potential for crush injuries from quad bike rollovers. Additionally, as farmers and farm managers are responsible for health and safety in farm work settings, ensuring maintenance of farm roads and laneways, and enforcing compliance with rules relating to speed, passengers and helmet use, will all be important. The road safety industry can play an important role in assisting the small and generally family-based farming businesses to adopt these approaches.