Quad safety promoted as part of the product
It's hard to believe that quad bikes or ATVs have been around for about 50 years – even longer if you add in the balloon-tyred trikes that first appeared in the Bond movie Moonraker.
Clic Wheel Systems quotes farmers John and Deborah McIntyre, of Nuhaka, Hawke’s Bay, as saying that anyone who feels strongly about the safe use of quads should be fitting dual wheels.
Safety helmets are of limited use in keeping farm quad riders safe, says McIntyre. “My analogy is that a helmet is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff – really only helping to prevent head injuries – whereas dual wheels stop you from going over the cliff.
“I get frustrated seeing news media asking for ways to make quads safer when there is something that does.
“My father and I farm on a sheep and beef farm on hill country in northern Hawke’s Bay and we have duals on both our quads. We feel almost naked when we go around the farm without them fitted.
“Dual wheels [cost more] but that is nothing compared to the cost of losing a life or getting a broken back. We had the Department of Labour up for a visit and the inspector was very impressed.”
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