Quad Bike Safety to be Improved

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will be turning its attention in 2021 to the implementation of important safety standards relating to quad bikes. This includes preparing consumers and businesses for a mandatory requirement for operator protection devices as it is introduced in October, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said last month.

Mr Sims, speaking at the National Consumer Congress, announced the ACCC’s five product safety priorities for 2021, which include:

• conducting education, surveillance and enforcement in relation to the quad bike safety standard
• implementing the new safety standards for button batteries
• implementing strategies for unsafe infant sleeping products
• strengthening product safety online through commitments from online marketplaces, and
• scoping effective risk controls for toppling furniture.

Speaking of quad bikes, Mr Sims said “There were a record 23 quad bike deaths last year, many from rollovers, and since 2011 there have been 162 deaths and an estimated six injuries per day associated with quad bikes. This is appalling and unacceptable.

“The ACCC will be focused on ensuring compliance with a series of requirements which are already in effect and importantly, also delivering educational initiatives about the second phase requirements that come into effect in October 2021.”

The ACCC works closely with its state and territory counterparts who regulate product safety across the country. The 2021 Product Safety Priorities are endorsed as national priorities by state and territory Australian Consumer Law regulators.

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