The deaths prompted a coronial review with results released last week.

Under the raft of proposed changes recommended by Deputy State Coroner Sharon Freund, quad bike owners in NSW would be required to obtain a licence and/or undertake compulsory training. Helmets would also be compulsory, quad bikes should be fitted with a seatbelt and children under 16 years banned on the vehicles.

Since 2001, there have been 200 quad bike deaths across the country, along with an average of 1400 people seriously injured each year, the inquest heard. Roll-overs, where the vehicle rolls over on top of the rider, were to blame for the majority of deaths and injuries.

Mick Muldoon, from Mick Muldoon Motorcycles, said most deaths and injuries come from riders doing the wrong thing.

He backed calls for mandatory training,

compulsory helmets and a ban on children under 16 years, but, said the introduction of seatbelts would only increase injuries and deaths.

“On a quad bike, if it rolls, you want to get away from it, not be attached to it,” he said.

Mr Muldoon said one of his customers was killed on a quad, while others were injured.

“People do not take note of the safety warnings on machines ... this is why our incidents and statistics are so high,” he said.

He added that manufacturers are “doing the right thing” and quad bikes come with numerous safety warning stickers attached.

Mr Muldoon said he was left shocked by a customer’s attitude during the recent delivery he made of a 500cc quad bike.

“I said ‘where’s the father so I can show him how to use it’ and she said ‘he’s not here, just teach the kids’,” he said.

Beard Brothers Motorcycles’ owner Nathan Beard said a lack of knowledge and training and disobeying safety guidelines are the biggest

contributors to the death and injury toll.

“I’d say 95 per cent of these would be reckless ... it’s people not knowing how to use the bike,” he said.

Mr Beard said compulsory training would ensure people knew the safest way to ride.