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Abstract
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OBJECTIVES: The ability to determine risk management controls for quad bike use is confounded by limitations in crash and injury information. The aim of this paper is to identify the injury mechanisms, crash characteristics and contributing factors in fatal quad bike incidents in Australia by activity (recreation and work).
METHODS: An in-depth case series study was undertaken of 106 Australian quad bike fatalities that had occurred between 2000 and 2013. All case material held by Australian coroners was obtained and reviewed.
RESULTS: 106 cases were categorised as occurring during recreation (53) and work (53). Fifty-two of the work cases occurred during farm work. The mean age for those killed during a work activity was 56 years compared to 27 years for recreational riders. Two children under 16 years died while performing farm work and 13 children under 16 years during recreational activities. The analyses show a very clear pattern for farm work related deaths: quad bike rolls or pitches over (farm worker, 85%; recreational rider, 55%), rider becomes pinned under quad bike (farm worker, 68%; recreational rider, 30%) and death by asphyxia (farm worker, 42%; recreational rider, 11%). In contrast, recreational riders suffered complex impact injuries to the head and chest that occurred when the rider was travelling at speed, lost control, was ejected, and collided with an object in the environment and/or interacted with the moving quad bike.
CONCLUSIONS: The analyses support the need to improve safe quad bike operation through consideration for the age of the rider, training, helmet use, reducing the propensity of quad bikes to roll, improving handling so that loss of control events are reduced, and to prevent crushing and pinning by the vehicle during and after a rollover crash.
Language: en |