NEW DELHI: The Department of Conservation will replace its quad bikes with light utility vehicles in a bid to improve safety. The move is a response to the number of accidents involving DOC staff on quad bikes. Last year there were 11 reported incidents throughout the country.
Conservation services director Andy Roberts said: “DOC has decided to phase out quad bikes throughout the country by the end of this year and replace them with light utility vehicles.”
The 200 quad bikes now in the nationwide fleet will be replaced with 80 light utility vehicles (LUVs).
The LUVs could transport two people, travel across a wider range of terrain and were easier to tow and carry gear. They also brought safety benefits for staff because the LUVs were operated more like cars, and had seatbelts and a protective roll cage, said Roberts.
DOC Nelson Lakes conservation services manager John Wotherspoon said the move was led by the DOC director general Lou Sanson.
The Nelson Lakes office now had two quad bikes which will be replaced with one LUV.
A Honda Pioneer 500 had been considered as it was not much wider than the existing quad bikes.
Wotherspoon said additional safety features included a roll cage, seatbelts and a lower centre of gravity.
“It is far more car like to drive and has less technical risk than a quad bike.”
