More than a third of farm fatalities involve quad bikes, and the number of injuries from quad bikes is increasing at an "alarming'' rate, according to a study by Waikato Hospital's trauma centre.
The study, which looked at patients admitted to Waikato Hospital between February 2007 and March 2011, found the underlying instability of the vehicles was the main factor in accidents, leading to the vehicle rolling in 39 per cent of accidents and serious head injuries in 24 per cent.
Just 45 per cent of patients recorded using helmets, despite the head being the single most injured part of the body among patients (29 per cent).
The study, which coincides with a string of inquests by Northland coroner Brandt Shortland into a spate of quad bike-related deaths in recent years, found that children under 16 were at a greater risk of injury or death due to their size and lack of strength or co-ordination. This was particularly evident when operating an adult quad bike, which could weigh more than 225kg and reach speeds in excess of 110km/h.
Researchers analysed demographics, location, mechanism of accident, helmet use, length of stay in hospital, injury severity and type of injury.
