A programme aimed at encouraging farmers to install crush protection devices on their quad bikes has been over-subscribed, hitting its initial target within 38 hours of the offer being launched.
The Safer Rides programme has had 110 farm businesses from across the country sign up to the pilot scheme, which offered a discount of up to 75% on crush protection devices (CPDs) from retailers Trax Equipment and Quadbar.
The initiative is being driven by Safer Farms in conjunction with partners Rabobank, ANZCO Foods, LIC, Craigmore Sustainables and PGG Wrightson as part of the Farm Without Harm strategy.
The pilot programme enabled farmers to apply for a heavily discounted CPD via a redeemable voucher to the value of $400. That meant more than half of the retail price was covered by Safer Rides. Participating retailers provided a further 15% discount.
Farmers from every region of New Zealand applied for the discount vouchers, with the largest uptake in Canterbury, followed by Manawatū-Whanganui.
The highest number of applications came from sheep and beef farmers but there was significant interest from dairy farmers too. Most applicants said this would be their first CPD purchase.
One hundred more are on a waitlist after applying. Safer Farms is exploring options to fund CPDs for these farmers too.
The response showed how much farmers value safety and want to make use of fail-safe solutions, Wairarapa Farmer and Farm Without Harm ambassador Lindy Nelson said.
“This is about being responsive to the practical needs of our farmers. Our members and retailers invested in this incentive programme to remove the cost barrier and this pilot has clearly struck a chord with farmers. Farmers clearly want to make their quad bikes safer.”
Farmers applying for the discount were invited to provide their reasons and Nelson said the responses highlighted how important it is to make CPDs accessible to farm businesses.
These include heartbreaking personal accounts of losing loved ones and neighbours through quad bike accidents, Nelson said.
“Many also cited the hilly nature of their farms and their desire to keep their people safe, and commented that they had been thinking about fitting CPDs on their quads for a long time but cost had been a barrier and this was the nudge they needed.
“Others talked about how it would provide them with peace of mind when their partner or colleagues were working out on farm alone.”
From 2019 to 2023 there were 22 quad bike-related fatalities in New Zealand, most involving rollovers and steep grades. The past year has been the deadliest yet for ATV-related fatalities, with the majority involving rollovers.
CPDs provide space underneath an upturned quad bike by spreading the weight of the bike and either creating space for survival or allowing the bike to roll off the occupant.
Four CPD products were available under the pilot programme. These are the QuadBar Original ($635) and Quadbar flexibar ($780) from Quadbar, and the QuadGuard ($838) and Lifeguard ($1724) from Trax Equipment.
