Rollover bars do more harm than good

A US-based vehicle testing and development company has stepped forward to rebuff ACCC’s recommendations of fitting operator protection devices (OPDs) on ATVs, saying the devices are more likely to cause deaths or serious injuries than they will save lives.

A team of experts at Dynamic Research, Inc (DRI), made the conclusion after conducting a series of simulations and full-scale tests of 110 real-world rollover accident scenarios from the US and UK.

Through the research, which DRI said is currently the world's most current and thorough,  the organisation found that OPDs caused as many rider injuries and fatalities as it prevented.

“The ACCC recommendation and the policies of WorkSafe in NSW and Victoria for the fitting of OPDs are putting riders at risk,” said DRI Vice President and Technical Director, Scott Kebschull, who was part of the OPD research team.

“Our evidence highlights the wearing of safety helmets as the most effective device for reducing ATV injuries and deaths. It’s wear a helmet and ride safely!”

DRI has been involved in ATV safety research, including vehicle dynamics, stability, and crashworthiness for around 40 years. This also includes motorcycle and vehicle safety testing.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has echoed DRI’s sentiment and said ATV users need to exercise common sense when riding instead of rely on unproven solutions.

“Bolting on an unproven device is not a silver bullet making rural workplaces safe. Rollover simulation trials and university studies have shown that CPDs have no safety benefit in an ATV rollover,” said FCAI chief executive, Tony Weber.

“The answer is to make three fundamental behavioural changes to how people work with ATVs – behaviours that are plain common sense when using tools in any workplace:

1. Don’t let children operate the vehicle

2. Wear a helmet

3. Educate users."

“Surely, a better approach is education of users and the wearing of helmets.”

Weber said the State and Federal Governments as well as representative organisations such as the National Farmers Federation need to stop messing about with unproven solutions.

“Dangerous and misleading assumptions that CPDs are a safety silver bullet belie reality, and risk greater complacency by users of these serious farming tools,” Weber said.

“We need to start educating people on how to use these tools safely and stop needless injuries and deaths in our country’s farming community.”

The DRI and FCAI weren’t alone in opposing ACCC’s OPD fitting recommendation, as Honda recently threatened to withdraw its ATVs from the local market if the ACCC’s proposal becomes law.