Hi everybody, Feeling dumb. Why don't quad bikes need roll over protection? PUWER says do a risk assessment to see if you need ROPs and quad bikes seem to roll over on a regular basis ( please note I am Daily Mail reader ). Are farmers getting lots of claims they can't defend due to lack of ROPs. Serious question foe me - please comment.

Hi Martin1 You are correct - the law does ostensibly require quad bikes to be fitted with ROPs and this is technically an "absolute duty", subject to a caveat, and indeed a number of celebrities have been seriously injured in quad bikes rollovers (Ozzie Osbourne, Rik Maile) as well as the normal crop of ordinary workers. However, some years ago the HSE commissioned a research project which produced a computer simulation of a roll cage and concluded that these made the bike more unsafe. A senior HSE inspector publicly stated that quad bikes didn't require ROPs. No actual testing to confirm the results ever seemed to be carried out and I have to say that if it works for tractors where there's a legal requirement I've never understood why quad bikes are any different. If they flip backwards on a slope a simple roll bar seems likely to give you some protection from being crushed. If you go over forwards things might be different. It's probably down to the type of tumble you have. I'm not sure how many types of roll cage were considered by the HSE research - possibly only one. Given you face an absolute duty in law, a defence based on theoretical computer modelling without any practical testing seems rather weak. There are people making roll-bars so it is possible to fit them. I think if I used one every day on rough terrain, I'd fit one to protect myself, but I've never ridden one. Regards Dave

quote=Firesafety101]Are seat belts required?

Bicycles.

To operate (ride) a sit-astride ATV safely the rider needs to be able to move their centre of gravity relative to the vehicle (e.g. to the inside of the corner when turning). This is particularly important because you obviously can't lean a quad into a corner like you can a bike. Consequently a seat belt is not practicable and as Mr Smurf says a ROP is only safer if the driver is restrained inside the protected area. Hence no seatbelts and no ROPS

HSE research found no benefit to the driver of an atv (quad bike) with a ROPS but that it was more likely to increase the significance of harm. Instead, HSE insists on proper training, active riding and the wearing of an helmet. http://www.hse.gov.uk/re...rr_pdf/1999/crr99222.pdf http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais33.pdf In New Zealand they do use a form of ROPS on atv's: http://www.acc.co.nz/PRD..._promotion/wpc086719.pdf