It could soon be compulsory for all quads to have anti-roll bars and for users to wear protective headgear under a new bill being brought forward this week.

Fianna Fail TD for Mayo Dara Calleary is set to launch a new bill to improve safety on all-terrain vehicles, also known as quad bikes.

At present, there are no legal requirements in place for manufacturers or farmers to install anti-roll bars on quads.

As well as this, there are also no health and safety rules requiring the mandatory use of protective headgear, according to Fianna Fail.

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This bill is being brought forward by Deputy Calleary, following a recent recommendation from the county coroner in Mayo that anti-roll bars should be made compulsory on all quad bikes.

The All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Bill 2018 will make it mandatory for quad bikes to have anti-roll bars and for users to wear protective headgear.

The bill defines ‘anti-roll bars’ as a “crosswise, rubber-mounted bar in the suspension of a motor vehicle, which counteracts the movement downward on one side when cornering”.

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Commenting on the bill, Deputy Calleary said: “Tragically, 15% of all farm deaths between 2007 and 2016 were as a result of quad accidents.

Evidence shows that the major factors in these fatal accidents were farmers overturning or losing control of their quad bike and being crushed or pinned by the vehicle.

“Stricter controls on these potentially deadly vehicles are long overdue. There is a clear need for a stronger legislative framework to protect workers, particularly those on farms.

“In Australia moves are afoot to implement similar measures due to the high number of fatalities and injuries arising from quad bike accidents, while states in the US have set minimum age limits on their use,” he said.

Continuing, Deputy Calleary explained that it is important that “we learn from these sad and tragic accidents to put measures in place to try and prevent them from happening again”.

“The All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Bill, which I will be bringing forward next week, sets out the need for anti-roll bars on these vehicles and will legislate for the mandatory use of protective headgear.

“It will help to improve health and safety standards and will protect workers across the country,” the Fianna Fail TD concluded.