The all-terrain vehicle industry has come up with a new design to try to convince farmers to wear helmets and reduce fatalities on quad bikes.
Helmet use on quad bikes is known to be a serious safety concern, and several coronial inquests have found that helmets should be mandatory.
Research has shown around 30 per cent of quad bike fatalities could have been avoided with helmet use.
A 2016 Tasmanian inquest examined seven quad bike deaths and found helmets had been worn inappropriately or not at all in five cases.
Farmers typically complain that helmets are too hot, too heavy, or difficult to put on or take off.
A new class of helmet has been developed to try and address those issues.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry's all-terrain vehicle manager Mark Collins said the new helmet is a first and has been developed for Australian conditions.
"We listened to what farmers were saying and we've developed something we think can address all of those reasons why they might not wear one," Mr Collins said.
"Compared to a motorcycle helmet, it's very light, it's ventilated through the top of the helmet, it's got hearing pods on the side so you can hear who you're working with or your stock, and it's got a really easy clip to put on and off, and the liner is completely washable," he said.
Mr Collins said quad bikes deaths, which are a leading cause of farm fatalities, could be dramatically reduced if farmers could be convinced to wear helmets.
"We know helmets are the most effective safety device for ride-on type vehicles like an ATV [all-terrain vehicles], and we know we could have a 30 per cent improvement in fatalities if everyone wore a helmet," he said.
The Chamber has partnered with major all-terrain vehicle distributors to give away a new custom designed helmet with every all-terrain vehicle and side-by-side vehicle sold in September.
