Act now on farm bike safety, says research

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 564, 29 November 1994, Page 11

Act now on farm bike safety, says research

High accident rates with farm bikes may well lead to restrictive safety laws unless farmers take action on the problem, according to a Massey University farm machinery specialist. Bill Ritchie, author of a free booklet on ATV (three and four wheeled bike) safety, said the Health and Safety in Employment Act provided a framework for this sort of law. "If the farming community wants to avoid this, then they have to take responsibility and find solutions themselves," he said. "Part of the problem is that as ATVs are stable when stationary, they're perceived to be safer than two-wheelers - but everything changes when they move. Some farmers recognise the problem, but

there's a lot who don't recognise the dangers - they are the greatest risk group." Mr Ritchie said he wrote 'ATV Skills' to help people realise the potential hazards and practical steps to overcome them. He said safe use was also usually more efficient use. For example, correct loading of an ATV gave more performance and allowed the job to be completed more easily. "Better Traction gives better performance. If you ride ATVs properly, they will get you more places. "Operating an ATV is not just a question of sitting on the seat and squirting the throttle." Mr Ritchie has also worked on a tractor safety campaign and said he was motivated to become

involved in ATV safety by spending a lot of time with farmers - hearing the numbers mention ATV accidents - and seeing the results of accidents on ATVs. "Ten people have been killed on ATVs - half of them kids less than 12 years old - between February 1989 and June 1993. Tractors may cause more deaths, but farm bikes cause the most injuries - some with on-going effects." In 1992 there were over 1,100 injury claims reported to the ACC relating to ATVs but far more would never be reported, he said. Mr Ritchie' s research has shown New Zealand does not have problems with ATV s on our own. For example, Sweden with a large number of ATVs in

agricultural and forestry uses, also has high accident rates. "ATVs can be great work horses. But with over 50,000 in use on New Zealand farms, the market and the use grew much faster than the training and support. We must get the accident rate down: agriculture is one of the highest risk occupations in New Zealand." 'ATV Skills' by Bill Ritchies is available free from motorcycle retailers and Federated Farmers throughout the country and the offices of ACC and OSH (Occupational Safety and Health Service, Department of Labour). It was supported and endorsed by the New Zealand Motor Cycle Distributors' Association and Massey University.