Australian Quad Bike Deaths (2001-2010) Tony Lower October 19, 2012 Funded by the Hunter New England Local Health District.

Australian Quad Bike Deaths (2001-2010)

Tony Lower

October 19, 2012

Funded by the Hunter New England Local Health District

National Coroners Data

› When an incident occurs the state based coroner will open a file on the case (usually within a few days).

› This is logged onto the National Coroners Information System (NCIS) as an “open case”.

› Information from coronial inquests (police, work health & safety reports etc) are gradually added until the case is “closed” by the Coroner. This may take several years in some cases.

› For this analysis covering 2001-2010, 88% of cases were “closed”.

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Quad Bike Facts 2001-2010

› Over the period 2001-2010 there were 141 deaths involving quad bikes registered in the NCIS.

› 16 of these have subsequently been withdrawn from the analysis once the coroners files have been “closed” as they involved natural causes, side x sides, firearm & drowning incidents, leaving a total sample of 125 cases.

› Farms were the location of death in 67% of cases (n=84).

Deaths 2001 - 2012

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 120

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10

15

20

25

Year

No. of cases

Age & Primary Mechanism of Injury

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Age (yrs)Rollover Non-Rollover Total

n % n % n %

0-15 11 18.3 14 22.6 25 20.516-30 8 13.3 21 33.9 29 23.831-45 7 11.7 10 16.1 17 13.946-60 16 26.7 8 12.9 24 19.761-75 10 16.7 7 11.3 17 13.976+ 8 13.3 2 3.2 10 8.2Total 60 100 62 100 122* 100

* 3 cases where mechanism is undefined - ages 52, 62, 84 years

Other Non-Rollover Events

Quad Bike Rollover 49% (n=60)

Yes (n=15)

Non-rollover Did the machine roll?

Events (n=62)

No (n=47)

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Mechanism & Primary Cause (ICD-10)

› Rollover deaths were predominantly associated with: - thorax injury 28% (n=17)

- head injury 27% (n=16)

- other (asphyxiation/immersion) 20% (n=12)

- neck injury 12% (n=7)

› Non-rollover deaths were associated with: - head injury 39% (n=24)

- multiple injuries 29% (n=18)7

Brand of Quad (2001-2010)

Brand Rollover Non-Rollover Total (%)

Yamaha 5 16 21 (33%)

Honda 10 9 19 (30%)

Suzuki 8 5 13 (21%)

Polaris 3 3 6 (10%)

Kawasaki 1 2 3 (5%)

Bombardier 1   1 (2%)

28 35 63

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Role in Event - Children (n=25)

Driver/Operator Passenger

0-5yrs 3 5

6-10yrs 4 1

11-15yrs 7 5

TOTAL 14 11

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Child Deaths - Size of Quad

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Adult quads 84% (n=21)

Child quads 16% (n=4)

A Lesson from the USA

› “ATVs remain the most dangerous discretionary use product for children within CPSC’s jurisdiction. In the past three decades, at least 2,775 children under the age of sixteen have died in ATV-related accidents and at least 807,000 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries resulting from ATVs. Sadly, these numbers continue to grow.”

Commissioner Robert Adler (Feb 14, 2012)

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Passenger Involvement

› A total of 26 cases (21%) involved carrying at least 1 passenger. Of these cases, 14 (54%) were aged <16 years

› 17 non-rollovers & 9 rollovers

› 15 of the 26 victims were passengers (11 were < 16yrs)

- x 4 sitting in front of driver/operator (all aged <10yrs)

- x 9 pillion passengers (6 were <16 yrs)

- x 2 sitting on rear facing backwards (1 child, 1 adult)

› 11 of the 26 victims were operators (3 were <16yrs) 13

A Brief History

› CPSC - ATV’s an “Imminently hazardous product” - one step short of a ban.

› Legal agreement with major manufacturers (Consent Decree 1988). Included banning sales of 3-wheelers, a pitch stability requirement, safety labelling etc. The Consent Decree expired in 1998 and was replaced by a voluntary American National Standard (ANSI).

› The Consent Decree did not specify a lateral stability requirement. However, manufacturers’ agreed not to produce models less stable than those currently in production (kst 0.89) and to work towards a lateral stability standard.

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Defending the Indefensible

› Manufacturer submissions to the CPSC over the last 20+ years (& Australia in recent times), illustrate a continued resistance to engineering changes in relation to:

- lateral stability

- crush protection

- modifications to limit use of “adult” quads by children

- modifications to seat design to hinder carrying of passengers

› The negativity and lack of pro-active action by manufacturers’ to address any of these engineering issues is deeply disturbing.

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