QUAD bike deaths continued to run at an average of 10 a year, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety.
Centre director Tony Lower said the annual report was compiled from deaths reported in the media.
"There were 15 recorded quad-related deaths in 2014, maintaining the 10 year average of 14 deaths per year," Dr Lower said.
"Of these deaths 12 (80 per cent) occurred on farms, with a further two involving cases on public roads where the quads were turning into/out of a farm.
"The information also highlights the fatal mix of children and quads, with three cases involving children less than 16 years of age".
There were also at least 86 injuries serious enough to be reported in the media, with many likely to be life-changing, including brain and spinal injuries.
"All of these incidents have a huge impact on individuals, familes and communities".
Overall 60pc of deaths and 41pc of injuries involved rollovers.
"This reinforces the need for design improvements to reduce the risk of death and serious injury when quads roll," he said.
"More needs to be done to enhance the safety of the estimated 220,000 quads already in operation across Australia, while at the same time there is a responsibility for operators to ensure the safe use of the vehicles."
By addressing the design and safe use of quads in tandem, a significant impact could be made on the "horrific" statistics, he said.
Recommendations to improve safety must start with selecting the safest vehicle for the task that needs to be completed and in the majority of cases, this would not be a quad.
However, if a quad was still to be used, a suitably tested crush protection device should be fitted.
