AS National Farm Safety week draws to a close, quad bike safety continues to be an important topic, particularly in rural communities which often use the all-terrain vehicle for a range of purposes.
Glencoe dairy farmer Angela Tweddle and her two sons, aged 10 and 11, are among the many rural residents who use the bikes daily.
Ms Tweddle said travelling across her 500ha property is made easier with the help of quad bikes and “keep the kids off the iPad”.
She said her two sons started riding governed quad bikes at the age of two before moving to the higher cc bracket as they have grown.
“The bikes were governed so they went quite slow and you could actually walk alongside it,” she said.
“As they get older, they have got bigger ones but at all times they have always worn helmets.
“It is something the kids can do outside instead of being stuck inside watching television or on the iPhone.”
Data shows most quad bike-related injuries or death are caused by rider inexperience, lack of helmet or other protective equipment and hazardous, dangerous driving.
People aged between 10 and 24 years are most likely to get hurt or killed riding a quad bike.
However, Ms Tweddle stressed her sons are trained and competent in safe bike use and operation.
“They always have full-faced motorbike helmets, they always have to wear their boots and they always have to have long pants on,” she said.
“The safety measures are just in case something does go wrong, we can reduce the incidence of injuries.
“There is someone around watching them most of the time, it is very rare they go off by themselves to do jobs to get the cows in.”
Ms Tweddle said the distance between the farm’s furthest paddock was more than 2km, making it a “fair walk” from boundary to boundary.
“It makes life easier and quicker,” she said.
“We used to walk everywhere before but the farm has got bigger, so we needed to upgrade.
“The bikes are a really helpful way to get around and it is also good to have an extra set of hands.”
Ms Tweddle said in her experience, children raised in rural environments were more safety conscious and inclined to adhere to safe riding practices.
“Farm kids definitely have an advantage when it comes to safety on the farm,” she said.
“Kids that grow up with something, it is just second nature to them.
“They know what they can and cannot do and they have their boundaries.”
