The peak body representing Australia’s All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) distributors has thrown its support behind the Queensland Government’s new safety campaign and is encouraging other states and territories to take this progressive approach to rider education.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry (FCAI) has been a passionate advocate of known safety practices including helmets, rider education and following manufacturer recommendations, and believes that the Worksafe Queensland “Ride ready” program closely mirrors the initiatives that the FCAI advocates.
Only last month, the FCAI-developed 5 Star Safe ATV User Guide was released by quad bike distributors to their retailers as part of a more focussed approach to safety.
At the launch of the new Worksafe Queensland plan in Caboolture last weekend, Industrial Relations Minister Grace spoke about the unfortunate case of a young boy sustaining a serious head injury whilst riding a quad bike without a helmet as an example of how riders must follow a number of known safety practices in order to ride safely. The seven-year-old child made a full recovery but the incident served to again reinforce the necessity for rider education, regardless of age.
The public safety campaign, which kicks off this week on social media and will be followed by a short film, aims to raise awareness of the importance of wearing helmets, completing rider training, not overloading quad bikes, and keeping children and passengers off adult-sized and single seat ATVs.
“These same safety practices have been promoted by the industry for many years, so we intend to support and promote the Queensland campaign in order to improve safety outcomes for all ATV riders,” said FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber.
“We know that helmet wearing rates amongst ATV riders is disappointing low, and we also know that helmets are the most effective safety device for ATVs; one that has been shown to reduce head injuries by up to 64 per cent during ATV incidents,” Mr Weber added.
“Thanks to the profile that a government-supported program can bring, we can only hope these important safety messages reach a broader audience.”
The FCAI’s ‘5 Star Safe ATV User Guide’ outlines how riders can improve safety outcomes with a number of tips, including a vehicle selection guide where users are encouraged to select a ‘fit for purpose vehicle’ using a vehicle selection matrix.
The 5 Star Safe ATV User Guide, an ATV safety video and further safety information can be found on the FCAI’s www.atvsafety.com.au website.