Update, November 15, 2011: In response to member interest, we've added an additional briefing document to this page. Click on 'related documents above'.
The European Commission has proposed new rules to improve safety and to reduce the complexity of existing rules governing motorbikes and quad bikes.
These obligatory safety standards, which the Commission believes will also increase market competition, will require manufacturers to bring all new quads up to full road safety specifications.
The NFU fears this will make utility All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) more expensive, less suitable for agricultural use and have a significant impact on farmer choice.
The European Parliament’s agriculture committee is likely to vote on the proposals in November with a full parliamentary vote in early 2012.
The UK farming unions are working closely with MEPs to amend the proposals before they become law
Ben Coates, assistant regulatory affairs adviser, said: “The Commission proposal to increase the regulation on ATVs is extremely worrying.
“The technical changes that would be required to fit the regulation could significantly decrease the ATV’s off-road ability, completely undermining their current use. This will have an immediate and negative impact on work users of these vehicles such as farmers, foresters and emergency services.
“We also estimate that the increased technical standards would make vehicles between 40 and 60% more expensive to design and build.
“We have worked hard through our Brussels office to find a solution and we therefore welcome George Lyon’s efforts to improve the Commission proposals and will lobby the Parliament to support his amendments.”
- Visit our transport and regulation pages here.
- Read more information in the related document at the top of the page.
- roger oates - 17/11/2011
When you see the way in which some of the so called road legal quads are used and driven as a motorbike would be, I think our working machines should be distanced from them and not joined together as the E.U. would like.
Why don't they sort Europe out if they are short of a job.
- Mike Fox - 04/11/2011
Making these ATV's safer is one thing. Better designed lights would be good and improved braking, which most already have, would be good. What needs to be emphasised is that 'Work' sized quads are different than 'leisure' type quads, some of which are cheap versions, purchased on the internet, and totally unsuitable for the hard work that they are often subjected to. The European ATV Safety Institute, is constanly battling with the manufacturers, about safety issues, and are currently liasing regarding the threat to ATV importation, for professional use.
They are a very sound source of information.
Personally, I have been training operators of ATV's and Off-Road vehicles for ATB/Lantra/NPTC for 20+ years, and find that road use is generally covered to a satisfactory standard on our courses, and if this information is followed, clients don't have or don't cause any problems. The leisure use is a different issue altogether, and this must be emphasised to the powers that be. We don't need any more legislation, it's already in place, and just needs following.
Most machines which have a rear axle differential, also have a diff-lock, generaaly making the machines a bit more expensive, but much easier to handle on hard, dry surfaces.
No more rubbish from Europe - remember the debacle of trying to get Roll Cages onto quads a few years back !!Total nonsence !
- Tony Williams - 27/10/2011
These ATV's need to be classified as a small tractor or agricultural vehicle with special dispensation for non road use.