Elise Archer,Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to ensuring the safety of quad bike users in the State.
That’s why, in line with the other states and territories, we are introducing a consumer safety quad bike rating system and a safety standard in Tasmania.
The Consumer Goods (Quad Bikes) Safety Standard 2019 reduces the risk of injury or fatality to quad bikes users, including as a result of quad bikes rolling over, and provides consumers with information about the relative stability of different quad bike models.
This new Quad Bikes Safety Standard is now mandatory and means that all general-use model quad bikes must now have an operator protection device either fitted into the bike or integrated into its design. Quad bikes must now also meet minimum stability requirements.
Today’s changes follow the implementation of a first stage of the safety standard in October 2020, which required that all quad bikes must:
- meet the specified requirements of either the relevant US or EN Standard;
- be tested for static stability and display the angle at which it tips on to two wheels, at the point of sale; and
- have a durable label affixed, visible and legible when the quad bike is in operation, alerting the operator to the risk of rollover and must include rollover safety information in the owner’s manual.
This work complements other steps our Government is already taking to improve quad bike safety, including a public awareness campaign and the establishment of a rebate scheme to assist business operators to purchase safety devices.
