Quad bike fatality data

Summary of Quad Bike Fatalities (2011–2016)

• Almost half (42%) of quad bike fatalities occurred on terrain where an incline was noted by investigators (44 out of 104 fatalities)
• Over half (57%) of quad bike fatalities occurred on uneven ground
• Over half (58%) of quad bike fatalities involved rollovers (61), with 43 non-rollovers (collision/thrown from the quad/other)
• A potential weight imbalance (e.g. through carrying spray tanks, cargo, passengers, towing heavy trailers) was noted for over one third (38%) of quad bike fatalities
• In 12% (12) of quad bike fatalities the rider was wearing a helmet, 63% (66) were not wearing a helmet and in 25% of fatalities it was unknown if a helmet had been worn or not
• 51% (53) of the quad bike fatalities occurred while the deceased was riding while not working, 49% (51) occurred when deceased was working
• Over three-quarters 82% (86) of the quad bike fatalities were males. Of the 18 females who have died, half rode an imbalanced quad bike
• Children under the age of 16 were involved in 14% (15) of the fatal incidents
• None of the 104 fatalities mentioned any form of rollover protection on the vehicle

Note: Information compiled by Safe Work Australia.
Analysis includes all known Quad bike fatalities where the date of death occurred between 2011 and 2016.

2018 quad bike fatalities

2017 quad bike fatalities

2016 quad bike fatalities

2015 quad bike fatalities

2014 quad bike fatalities

2013 quad bike fatalities

2012 quad bike fatalities

2011 quad bike fatalities

¹ Helmet and ground surface information is based on information provided police and or coroners reports.

² Safe Work Australia has designated a potential weight imbalance when the following factors are mentioned in coroners and police reports: more than one rider on bike, towing trailer, supplementary weight on bike (e.g. drums containing liquid chemicals). This is Safe Work Australia’s judgment only and does not necessarily represent any verdict handed down by a coroner.

³ Case status as listed on the National Coronial Information System as at 7 June 2013. Closed cases will not be updated.

Summary of Quad Bike Fatalities (2001–2010)

• Almost one-third (29%) of quad bike fatalities occurred on terrain where an incline was noted by investigators (36 out of 125 fatalities)
• Almost half (44%) of quad bike fatalities occurred on uneven ground
• Just under half (47%) of quad bike fatalities involved a primary rollover (59), with 63 non-rollovers (collisions/thrown from quad) and three cases undefined)
• A potential weight imbalance (e.g. through carrying spray tanks, cargo, passengers, towing heavy trailers,) was noted for one-third (44) of the quad bike fatalities
• In 15% (19) of quad bike fatalities the rider was wearing a helmet, 46% were not wearing a helmet and in 39% of fatalities it was unknown if a helmet had been worn or not
• 50% of the quad bike fatalities occurred while the deceased was riding Non-workingly, 46% occurred while the deceased was working and the remainder were undefined
• A total of 82% (102) of the quad bike fatalities were males. Of the 23 females who have died, 8 were passengers on the quad bike
• Children under the age of 16 were involved in 19% (24) of the fatal incidents
• None of the 125 fatalities mentioned any form of rollover protection on the vehicle

Note: Information provided by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health & Safety.
Analysis includes all known Quad bike fatalities where the date of death occurred between 2001 and 2010. Only 12 of the 125 cases remain open and more data may be forthcoming on those cases.