SSVs must be used as per the manufacturer’s safety advice, where this advice is not followed it is possible to be seriously or fatally injured.

National Coronial Information System (NCIS) data indicates that all people who were fatally injured in an SSV incident were not following one or more of the manufacturer’s safety requirements, or correctly using the built-in safety devices.
The NCIS data for SSV related fatalities between 2001 and 2019 found the main contributing factors to these fatalities were:

• Seatbelts were not used: Drivers and passengers were not using the seatbelts, and were fatally injured during the incident.
• Doors and/or Netting removed: Drivers and/or passengers were partially or fully ejected from the SSV when the doors and/or netting have been removed.
• No helmet worn: Where helmet use was recorded, none of the people fatally injured were wearing a helmet.
• One quarter of all fatalities were children under 15 years of age. The manufacturers strictly warn against allowing children under the age of 16 to operate these vehicles.
• Side by side vehicles can ignite fires if parked or operated near flammable items. The engine and exhaust components of side by side vehicles become extremely hot during operation. Do not park or operate side by side vehicles near flammable items. Particular care should be taken around dry grass, dry leaves or any other flammable substrate that may ignite when exposed to extreme heat. Learn more about side by side fire safety at this link.

State Coroners who reviewed these incidents, reported that these fatalities may not have occurred if the Driver/passenger had used the recommended safety devices as per the manufacturer’s safety advice.