Quad bikes put lives at risk

Farmers using quad bikes on Scilly could be putting their lives at risk because the machines are being driven dangerously.

Farms in the Westcountry have recently been inspected by the Health and safety Executive and found that many farmers were using the vehicles without proper training.

Quad bikes can reach speeds of 40mph with engines more than 125cc.

Quad bikes have recently been in the news after singer Ozzy Osbourne was seriously injured in an accident. Five years ago “Bottom” star Rik Mayall was left in hospital after a quad bike accident.

The machines are found on most of the islands on Scilly. They are used on farmland and on the off islands to get around easily. Over the last few years numbers have grown dramatically and quad bikes have replaced tractors as the vehicle of choice on the off islands.