Fyrhjulingsförares beteenden och felhandlingar. [A behavioural study of quadbike drivers.]

As quadbikes are becoming more and more common the number of accidents also increases. The first aim of this project was therefore to increase our knowledge of the accidents, whilst the second aim was to increase our knowledge of how and where quadbikes are used, the mistakes and violations that are made and what situations and behaviours drivers consider as risky. The results show that quadbikes are popular vehicles as tools, as recreational vehicles and as vehicles for transport. Inexperienced drivers’ lack of knowledge, alternatively experienced drivers’ stress and/or carelessness combined with the quadbikes special characteristics; underage drivers; quadbike-driving under the influence of alcohol and excessive speed may however lead to accidents. Without a helmet the consequences of an accident might become more severe. Based on the results of this study, the authors recommend the following measures to reduce the number of serious quad bike accident: • expanded eligibility requirements with a short specialized training course focusing on practical driving training on quadbikes in combination with a theoretical risk education that addresses the risks of stress, underage drivers, quadbike-driving under the influence of alcohol, and excessive speed • joint vigorous efforts to reduce underage drivers through information dissemination, at for example schools, at retailers, at agricultural and forestry fairs and at various quadbike online forums • a joint action program to reduce quadbike-driving under the influence of alcohol • helmet requirements linked to the driving situation, instead of the type of vehicle registration. The project was divided into two sub-studies where the first was a database analysis, while the other was an interview-study. In the database analysis 51 road accidents registered in Strada police were examined. In five of these 51 accidents, the driver was a child/youth under 18 years. In the subsequent interview-study, 7 injured drivers (involved in any one of the 51 road accidents registered in Strada) and 22 non-injured drivers were interviewed. (Author/publisher)