Modified quad bike much safer, owner says

Chris Medlicott demonstrates his modified quad bike on his Kaikorai Valley lifestyle block. Photo...
Chris Medlicott demonstrates his modified quad bike on his Kaikorai Valley lifestyle block. Photo by Linda Robertson.
A Dunedin lawyers says some minor adjustments to quad bikes can make them safer and save lives.

''I have had two complete roll-overs and five others where it landed on its side,'' Chris Medlicott says.

''I think anything you can do to reduce the likelihood of a roll-over is worth doing.''

In one incident with his quad bike, he was thrown from it and dislocated his shoulder and in another it rolled over the top of him. It was only by chance he was not more seriously hurt.

Mr Medlicott had made modifications to his quad bike which he said made it safer and less likely to roll.

''I used to inch along this,'' he said, pointing to the hills on his 7ha lifestyle block in Kaikorai Valley.

''And now I just go hoofing along and don't even give it a second thought.''

Mr Medlicott had an engineer install tandem back wheels on the vehicle.

''The engineer was about $600 and the wheels and tyres, second-hand, were about $300,'' he said.

''I can't even get it to look like tipping and that's where, I think, the majority of fatalities occur.''

Mr Medlicott asked to tell the public about his modified quad bike via the Otago Daily Times after a report released last week said off-road vehicle accidents accounted for the second-highest number of recreational deaths of children, behind only swimming and other aquatic activities.

An Australian academic subsequently told the ODT that quad bikes ''pose an unacceptable risk to all people who drive them''.

But Mr Medlicott said with his modification s, safety was vastly improved. However, children should still be kept off them - ''they haven't got the strength''.

Since making the adjustments he had no trouble and felt safer.

''I have got the confidence now to tackle the slopes and I don't feel as threatened,'' he said.

 

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