Important aspects pertaining to the safety of quad bikes / atv’s gained exposure in the Rapport Newspaper of the 12th of August. The in-depth feature article titled “Make these toys safer” highlights the plight of a few quad bike survivors.

One of these survivors faces a bleak future having suffered brain damage after a quad bike accident in April this year. At the time of the accident this victim, a father of 2 young daughters, was not wearing a safety helmet…

Another young accident victim had to undergo reconstructive surgery having had his lower jaw ripped off when driving on a quad bike through barbed wire. The Arrive Alive road safety website and Quad24.co.za have been privileged earlier in the week to provide information to Lizel Steenkamp, the journalist who exposed these hazards.

Unfortunately statistical information on quad bike accidents and fatalities are very scarce. At present the Road Traffic Management Corporation compiles all the fatal crash accidents and quad bike accidents are grouped with three other groupings of motorcycles under a category for motorcycle accidents. An additional important factor impacting on data collection is that most of these accidents occur on private property since quad bikes are not allowed on public roads.

The hazards of quad biking were made more personal by reference to specific individuals who passed away from quad bike accidents during the past 15 months. Many of us are aware of people who have been injured in quad bike accidents – and have to confess that many of these injuries could have been avoided.

In a separate story titled “Correct equipment can prevent tears” reference is made to those aspects required for greater safety and the need for increased regulatory control. In the United States there are states with regulations with regards to the allowable engine size of vehicles operated by children of specific age groups, and also pressure for greater enforcement on this…

One of the most important aspects not emphasized is the necessity for parental control. On Facebook the developers of the Quad24 website have created a group for quad biking in South Africa and this allows members to add their own quad biking photos. It is however concerning that many of the photos from members depict drivers not wearing safety helmets and other protective equipment.

It is time that we acknowledge that protective clothing is “cool” and that quad biking is an adrenaline activity that can be performed with a focus on safety. South Africa has an unique beauty of nature and quad bike tourism can play an important role towards sharing this beauty with both locals and foreigners- it is however important that this be done by focusing on health and safety!

Also view the following aspects which have been included both on the Arrive Alive website as well as Quad24.co.za

• Quad bike safety
• Quad bike injuries
• Quad bikes and children

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By: arrivealive.co.za