Coroner's Finding: Quad bike related deaths of Heather Dawn Richardson, Jan Severin Jensen, Kendall Russell Bonney, Vicki Mavis Percy, Jay Randall Forsyth, Jabob Graham Green and Roger Maxwell Larner
Demographics
unknown
Finding date
2020-01-03
Cause of death
Multiple causes across seven deaths: severe blunt trauma, crush injuries, traumatic brain injuries, head trauma, traumatic asphyxia
AI-generated summary
This coronial inquest examined seven quad bike fatalities in Tasmania between 2012-2015. The deceased included farmers, workers, and recreational riders aged 21-75 years. Key findings: inadequate training was a significant factor (none had formal quad bike training despite long experience); helmet non-use was catastrophic in four cases; passenger overloading contributed directly to one death; and excessive alcohol was implicated in three cases. The coroner found that mandatory training and licensing, mandatory helmet use, prohibition of passengers on inappropriate vehicles, and child protection legislation could prevent future deaths. No evidence supported mandatory rollover protection systems. Standardised crash investigation protocols and adoption of ANSI safety design standards were recommended. The coroner criticised WorkSafe Tasmania's minimal engagement and made firm recommendations for legislative action across multiple safety domains.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- lack of formal quad bike training
- non-use of helmets
- carrying passengers on single-operator vehicles
- excessive alcohol consumption
- excessive speed
- loss of vehicle control
- mechanical factors in some cases
- inadequate supervision and regulation
Coroner's recommendations
- Consideration be given by the Tasmania Law Reform Institute and the Attorney-General to the introduction of legislation requiring mandatory training and licensing of all persons using quad bikes
- Urgent consideration be given, by the Tasmania Law Reform Institute and the Attorney-General, to the introduction of legislation requiring the use of a suitable approved helmet by all persons using quad bikes
- Consideration be given by the Tasmania Law Reform Institute and the Attorney-General to the introduction of legislation that: (a) prohibits children under the age of 16 from operating adult sized quad bikes; (b) prohibits children between the ages of 6 and 16 from operating youth sized quad bikes other than in accordance with manufacturers' specifications; and (c) prohibits children under the age of 6 from ever operating any quad bike
- Consideration be given, by the Tasmania Law Reform Institute and the Attorney-General, to the introduction of legislation prohibiting the carrying of passengers on Type I quad bikes and any more than one passenger on Type II quad bikes
- Interested parties, including the FCAI and State and Commonwealth industrial safety authorities, work collaboratively with a view to initiating the process of implementing a safety and design standard for quad bikes in the terms of the relevant American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard; and pending implementation of any such standard by Standards Australia, any quad bikes imported into Australia should comply with the applicable ANSI standard
- Commonwealth and State industrial safety authorities work collaboratively with other interested parties to develop a star rating system to assist in the reduction of serious injury and deaths to users of quad bikes
- A taskforce be established across relevant state government agencies to consider and develop strategies to reduce fatalities and serious injuries arising from work and recreational use of quad bikes
- Tasmania Police liaise with other state and territory police services to ensure that the approach to investigation of quad bike serious and fatal accidents is standardised and to ensure ongoing training and improvement in quad bike accident investigation
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