Farms in Scotland face on the spot safety checks as part of an effort to reduce the number of accidents involving quad bikes.
The Scottish Health and Safety Executive has announced that it wants to inhibit the number of avoidable injuries caused by misuse and poor maintenance of the vehicles.
Quad bikes and other all terrain vehicles have experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, partly due to their widespread use in the agricultural sector.
During June, inspectors will be visiting farmers and landowners in East Lothian, Perthshire, Stirlingshire, Angus and the Borders to make sure that owners are keeping their quad bikes in good condition and are riding them correctly.
Official HSE figures emphasise the need to have quad bikes regularly serviced and maintained by an experienced, qualified technician rather than attempt do-it-yourself repairs. According to their latest report, on average two people are killed per year and over 1,000 suffer injuries in quad bike or all-terrain vehicle accidents.
Gillian McLean, inspector for the HSE said: “More than half of all quad bike riders have been thrown from their vehicle at some point, so it is vital that farmers ensure all their workers wear helmets, are properly trained and that all bikes are well maintained.
“Nobody who has died from head injuries after falling off a quad bike was wearing a helmet.
“Helmets would certainly have prevented most, if not all, the deaths caused by quad bike accidents – simple safety precautions can save lives.”