Children under the age of 16 should be banned from riding quad bikes, a South Australia safety report says.
Adults should also use safer alternatives such as side-by-side vehicles and always wear helmets to tackle high rates of quad bike fatalities, the University of Adelaide's Centre for Automotive Safety Research says.
Quad bikes are the leading cause of accidental death on Australian farms, with 161 people dying between 2000 and 2014. Children account for 16 per cent of fatalities.
"Many quad bike riders have the belief that these vehicles are an all-terrain vehicle and therefore safe and stable to ride. But this leads to a false sense of security," researcher Lisa Wundersitz said on Tuesday.
Almost 60 per cent of quad bike fatalities occurred on farms, and more than half involved the vehicle rolling and crushing the rider.
"Typically, quad bikes overturn when used on steep inclines, when they are carrying heavy loads, from turning too sharply or simply because the vehicle has struck a hidden rock in the ground," Dr Wundersitz said.
More than 40 per cent of riders interviewed for the study let children under the age of 16 ride solo or as passengers.
