Orange Health Service trauma director Dr Brian Burns who has treated victims both on the scene and in the emergency department said he welcomes the recommendations of deputy state coroner Sharon Freund for tighter restrictions on the use of quad bikes in an effort to rein in injuries and deaths.

“Those 125 people we have treated at our three hospitals don’t take into account the deaths and patients who are flown directly to Sydney for emergency treatment - so the figures are higher,” Dr Burns said.

“I am staggered by the number of injuries we see - they are horrific,” he said.

Dr Burns, who has closely followed the quad bike debate by gathering data on accidents, said he is particularly concerned at the number of children injured after being allowed on quad bikes.

“Data shows that while there is a smattering of injuries across all age groups of young people it is in the five to six years age group where injuries are most common,” he said.

Dr Burns said he strongly discourages any parent who is considering buying a quad bike for their child for Christmas.

“I’m not a killjoy - I enjoy snowboarding myself for example, but quad bikes are dangerous for children and this is reflected in the number of injuries and deaths we are getting,” he said.

Dr Burns said legislating is the only way to control the number of deaths and serious injury sustained by children and adults riding quad bikes.

Dr Burns said he has seen many scenarios involved in quad bike injuries during his time as a trauma doctor.

“There needs to be compulsory helmets as many people are ejected and sustain head injuries because quite often accidents occur on rocky terrain or people hit their heads on logs or trees,” he said.

He said because quad bikes are heavy, anyone trapped underneath will inevitably suffer crushing injuries.

However he said he would like to see any legislation implemented to include the compulsory fitting of roll bars.

JUDITH Bover’s husband died when he was crushed by his quad bike on the family farm near Orange several years ago.

“Like my husband’s accident most are caused by human error - by people doing the wrong thing like my husband,” Mrs Bover said.

She said her husband did not take enough care, and with a spray tank attached to the back of the quad, he was driving in long grass on the bank of a dam.

“There was a log hidden in the long grass and he didn’t see it,” she said.

However, Mrs Bover said like most people who live on properties she taught her grandchildren to ride quad bikes.

“But I do think everyone should undergo training with a certificate issued at the end,” she said.

“I know for myself when I saw a demonstration at the Field Days I learned so much.

“You need to know where to distribute your weight to adjust to the conditions - just like riding a horse.”

She said making helmets compulsory for people using them on farms has its challenges.

“Perhaps something like a jockey’s helmet would work, because a full helmet would just be too hot for someone working all day,” she said.

Seatbelts too she said won’t work.

"As far as I'm concerned they are an absolute no no because they pose a danger if you need to get out," she said. 

Mrs Bover said a great deal of work will need to be done to change the culture of people using quad bikes.

“Young people for example have always pushed the boundaries,” she said.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au