‘You need to have a licence to drive a tractor or car, quads should be no different’

Louise Walsh

A former garda sergeant who gave safety talks on the use of quad bikes has now opened a new training school in his retirement, ahead of new regulations on the use of the vehicles.

From November, it will be mandatory for all operators of (ATV ) quad bikes in all workplaces to wear helmets and have successfully completed a training course.

However calls have been made for mandatory training courses for all ages who also use quads for leisure reasons.

The regulations were announced last year after the Health and Safety Authority recorded a total of eleven work related fatalities relating to quad bikes from 2013 to 2022.

The new rules have also been welcomed by former IFA President John Dillon who nearly lost his life in a quad accident, but believes they should be extended to include younger people.

Former Meath Crime Prevention Sergeant Dean Kerins said the issue on quads always cropped up when giving safety talks, especially in rural communities.

Since retiring from the force a year ago, he has set up the DHK Safety Ltd training school in Carnaross, near Kells.

"I had been looking at quad training before Covid-19 hit and I found it impossible to get onto a course here so l signed up with the accredited body LANTRA to become a recognised quad instructor," he said.

"I had spent over a decade of my garda career as a Crime Prevention Officer so I was well versed first-hand at how dangerous they can be, When buying a quad, basic training should be part of the package

"You have to have a licence to drive a tractor, car or other motorised vehicles, so this should be no different

"The young people especially after a few goes think they are Evil Knievel going over the fields but they are not taking account of the terrain. Any little bump in the ground or obstacles could have disastrous consequences.

"The seven-hour long training course gives appreciation of the machine itself, the emergency basics, maintenance and safety as well as a manual handling class to know the terrain and driving in all kinds of weather.

"Most of the time, the reality is that many don't look after their quads or check tyres and all can have bearing on any accident.

"You could have very experienced personnel on quads but they will still need certification, which lasts five years, from November. I think people are now realising that you may not get insurance if you don't have the necessary training done.

"A lot of people from the areas of farming and forestry are coming to me now looking for training.

"I saw a number of incidents in my time and heard of many more accidents from farmers. I actually pulled in one fella on a quad that was flying up a main road at about 6okm/h without a helmet.

"I also advised a lot of farmers on marking their quads which became quite a target of rural crime in recent years.

"Even if you have your own quad on your own land, you will still need to get training.

"I think down the line, kids under 16 should have to undergo training. It's certainly something that should be looked at. Quads are becoming more and more powerful and kids, being kids will want to see how fast it can go. They just want to go flat out and don't see danger at that age."

"Gardai are always warning on the dangers of buying quads so I think these new regulations are a step in the right direction. They will, without a doubt, reduce the number of fatalities."

After almost 20 years since he nearly lost his life in a quad accident, former IFA president John Dillon has welcomed the new regulations but says they should be extended to children.

The 75 year old Limerick farmer has been calling for more safety regulations around the use of quads since the 2004 accident on his farm which took half an inch off his leg.

He has spent almost two decades telling quad users to never put their leg out or try to jump clear of an overturning bike in case their limb gets caught in the wheel, which is what happened to him.

John believes that if his son was not nearby to tie a cloth around his leg to stop the bleeding, he would have died within a half an hour of the accident.

"I was bringing in the cattle and I was on a quad. My sons were out on the road to steer the cattle across when my quad reared up on a slight rise," he said.

"I put out my leg to save myself and it got caught in the back wheel and broke. There was nothing holding that part of my leg only a bit of skin and flesh.

"I was screaming in pain and I was using my other leg to try and keep the quad from falling on top of me.

"One of my sons Joe was nearby and he saved me because I wouldn't have lasted much longer, I was that weak. He came and took the bike off me and then took off his belt and tied it around my leg to stop the blood loss.

"The pain was awful and if my son wasn't there, I would have bled to death in a half an hour

"My leg is a half an inch shorter because of the accident and stiffer but thankfully, it hasn't stopped me. I'm 75 now and walked 34kms in a day recently.

"I'm up at 4am each morning to milk the cattle and I still use the quad if I need to but I'm much more careful now. People on a quad instinctively throw a leg out to stop them from falling or jump clear of an overturning quad. By doing this, they can get their leg caught in the wheels of have the quad turn on top of them.

"You should literally sew yourself to the quad in that situation.

"The new regulations are welcome but I think the training courses should be given at an early age or from the first use of a quad.

"Adults taking the course who have a quad for a farm have probably been on that quad since they were 14 or 15 years of age. It's then that they should be trained before they develop bad habits on the quad.

"The older you get, the wiser you become but young people don't see danger, they take risks and I really believe that the regulations should be extended to children."

"It's naive to think that children as young as 12 aren't on quads on a farm, despite recommendations against anyone younger than 16.

A statement by the HSA says: "From 20 November 2023, it will be mandatory for all operators of Quad bikes (ATVs) in all workplaces, to have successfully completed a quad bike training course provided by a registered training provider to a QQI Standard or equivalent.

"Operators of Quad Bikes (ATVs) will be required to wear appropriate head protection while carrying out work-related duties. We advise all concerned to contact their local training providers to plan and undertake the relevant training as soon as possible and in advance of the November deadline.

"Manufacturers of ATVs provide recommendations on suitable age of operators and it is generally specified that no person under the age of 16 should operate a quad

"Although the new regulations relating to quad bikes (ATV) are specifically for operators carrying out work-related activities, we would urge all operators to wear the appropriate safety helmet and PPE when using a quad bike."