Are Quad Bikes Dangerous?
Yes, yes, yes! Quad bikes are very dangerous machines, which is why we take such special precautions during our ever-popular quad bike trails. They look incredibly cool when kicking up dust and splashing through standing water on our farm, yet there is the ever-present element of danger that this vehicle can cause harm, serious injury, and even death. To date, we have never had a serious incident on our trails. We have had a few bumps, though. Our low incident rating is largely due to our safety rules and precautions. People are taught how to ride during our safety briefing, proper protective equipment is provided, the bikes are limited from reaching ridiculous acceleration speeds, and we respect the vehicles.
So, why are quad bikes dangerous? Well, there are a number of factors that make the quad bike a dangerous machine:
The bike has a high centre of gravity (this is because quad bikes are raised to protect itself from rocks and bumps). This means that the vehicle is very unstable when compared to a car. If the gravity shifts too sharply, such as when an inexperienced driver pulls the steering too sharply, or the steering is yanked to avoid a rock or hole in the road, the quad bike can actually flip!
The quad bike is an incredibly hefty vehicle. It is not a lighter motorbike. When the vehicle flips, it can crush a rider and its passengers fairly easily.
A quad bike’s tyres are exposed and are quite close to the rider’s or passenger’s legs. This means that they can get their legs caught between the bike’s fender and the tyre if they are not careful.
Quad bikes are powerful machines! They are often overpowered so that they can perform the pulling and carrying functions on farms. For an inexperienced rider, they may be unaccustomed to the power that the bike exhibits and can lose control.
Handling a quad bike is actually very easy. This might not seem like a factor that causes quad bike-related crashes, but it is actually the biggest factor. Within minutes, an inexperienced quad bike rider may develop false confidence in their abilities. This can cause them to race, speed, drift, and skid their way to an accident.
Are quad bikes dangerous, you asked?
However, there are ways of mitigating the risks involved in riding a quad bike, especially for those that are new to riding a quad bike and are operating the vehicles purely for recreational use.
Ensure that you study a manual and receive proper training if you intend on owning a quad bike. If you are only using a quad bike for recreation, and are NOT intending on owning one, then the quad bike owner or tour operator should give you a full safety and operational instruction and briefing. Make sure that you listen intently to everything they tell you. If there is something you are not sure about, ask and ask again.
Wear the correct safety equipment. If you are not wearing riding boots, then make sure that you are wearing closed shoes. You also should not be wearing loose fitting clothing, as this may get caught by the tyres. Make sure that you have safety glasses to protect yourself from dust, insects, mud and debris. Ensure that you have a comfortable and effective protective helmet on your head.
Ride carefully! This means that you should not race quad bikes. You must not ride quad bikes too closely, because if one bike brakes hard or loses control, the likelihood of crashing into another quad bike is mitigated if the bikes are further apart from each other. Do not speed with quad bikes. Also try staying away from obvious obstacles. For instance, do not speed through a forested area, because a quad bike is wider than a bike, and you stand a higher chance of clipping your bike against an object.
Try not to jerk or yank the steering on a quad bike. Ensure that all your steering is done carefully and gently. Turning too quickly, over a very short space and at high speed can result in you flipping the bike.
Quad biking is a very fun activity, and if you have never been on a quad trail we suggest you get your friends and family together and enjoy this fun past-time. However, you should never forget how dangerous a quad bike really is. Understanding the danger of these machines is the first step toward climbing on a quad bike and having an hour of safe fun in the African sun. Are quad bikes dangerous? Maybe the proper answer should be: only if you’re being irresponsible.
If you want to enjoy a safe quad bike trail guided by a quad biking expert, then make sure you contact Hollybrooke Adventure Farm and book your quad bike trail now!