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'Unacceptably high' quad bike deaths: Coroner calls for Government action

Author
Amy Wiggins, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 23 Aug 2017, 11:36AM
Contractors remove the quad bike Neville Anderson was riding when he died. Photo/File
Contractors remove the quad bike Neville Anderson was riding when he died. Photo/File

'Unacceptably high' quad bike deaths: Coroner calls for Government action

Author
Amy Wiggins, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 23 Aug 2017, 11:36AM

The Coroner says the Government needs to do more to address the high number of quad bike deaths.

The call comes after the investigation into the death of 56-year-old Neville Ian Anderson, who was found under a quad bike on a farm in the Clutha District in September 2014.

Coroner Brigitte Windley concluded Anderson died because his chest was crushed in the accident and he could not breathe.

Anderson was told to drop off a trailer and follow a prescribed route to check the paddocks for new lambs or mothers in difficulty but when he was last seen he was not on that route.

When he failed to drop off the trailer and did not return by 5.30pm, a search began.

Anderson was found pinned under the overturned quad bike about 6.30pm.

Windley said it was "imperative" further work be done by the Government to address New Zealand's unacceptably high number of quad bike deaths and serious injures.

"Despite the public attention quad bike deaths have received, and the ongoing work done by government agencies such as WorkSafe and ACC, with input and support from industry organisations, quad bike deaths were reported to have reached a record high in 2016," she said in her finding.

However, there's scepticism about the idea of making roll bars compulsory on quad bikes, from farmers who use them.

Federated Farmers Southland president Allan Baird said he's all for improving safety for farmers.

But he said he's not convinced mandatory roll over bars are the answer, as a lot of back country land just doesn't have a rollover risk.

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