Business Feature
Queensland road rules changed from February 1, 2017 to provide greater protection for passengers on quad bikes, motorbikes and utility off-road vehicles.
The changes are designed to protect children travelling as passengers on these vehicles by placing restrictions related to a passengers age and size. The road rules for wearing motorbike helmets have also changed.
It’s now against the law for a person to ride a quad bike or off-road vehicle with a passenger who is under eight years old, and it’s already against the law to have a pillion passenger on a motorbike who is under eight years old (and this law has not recently changed).
It’s now against the law to carry a quad bike passenger unless they can reach the footrests designed for use by a pillion passenger.
Summary of the Changes
- Children under eight cannot ride as a passenger on a motorbike, quad bike or off-road vehicle (unless they are a passenger in a side car).
- You cannot carry a passenger on a quad bike unless they can reach the footrests.
- You cannot carry a passenger on an off-road vehicle unless their feet can rest flat on the floor when seated and they can reach the vehicle handrail (if one is fitted).
- Drivers and passengers on a motorbike, quad bike or off-road vehicle must wear an approved helmet.
It’s now against the law to carry an off-road vehicle passenger, unless the passenger can place their feet flat on the vehicle floor when seated. The passenger will also need to be able to reach and hold the vehicle handrail when seated.
The laws now provide that a person riding a motorbike, quad bike or off-road vehicle must wear an approved motorbike helmet. A passenger of a motorbike, quad-bike or off-road must also wear a helmet. The rules for wearing helmets don’t apply if the vehicle is parked and the engine is off.
Changes to the laws are in response to an inquest in 2015 regarding a series of deaths involving quad bike accidents. According to the inquest, head injuries accounted for over 30 per cent of all deaths following a quad bike accident and recommendations were made about mandatory helmet use while riding quad bikes.
There are limited circumstances in which quad bikes can be conditionally registered. Quad bikes shouldn’t be ridden on roads unless it’s conditionally registered. If, for example, a farmer is required to ride a quad bike across a road between two farms then it should be conditionally registered.
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