An in‐depth case series study of 106 Australian quad bike (otherwise known as ATVs) for the period 2000‐2012 showed rollover incidents constituted around 70% of all cases. The percentage of deaths attributed to ATV rollovers in the US is similar at around 72%. These 106 cases were extracted from a total number of 141 deaths collected from the Australian National Corners Information System (NCIS) that involved either a quad bike which the rider straddles and steers via handle bars or a side‐by‐side (SSV) or other terrain vehicle in which the rider sits in it similar to a car and steers via a steering wheel. The remaining 35 cases were identified as 32 cases involving public road crashes that included three SSV fatalities, two off road SSV fatalities and one off road six wheel vehicle with a straddle seat. Around half of the 106 quad bike fatalities studied in detail were farm work related with the other 50% recreational. Around 68% (n=36) of the farmers killed were pinned under the quad bike, with 42% (n=22) dying by mechanical asphyxia. The two SSV fatalities were farm related where the occupants were not wearing the installed seat belts and were ejected and injured by the four post Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) surrounding the occupants similar to a vehicle roof structure. Operator Protection Devices (OPDs) (essentially a rollbar behind the rider), have been proposed for aftermarket fitment to quad bikes to reduce such injuries. This study presents the results of a rollover crashworthiness test program consisting of:​ quad bike (with and without an OPD) and SSV laboratory rollover crash tests using a tilt table with a release mechanism and an instrumented Motorcycle Anthropomorphic Test Device (MATD);​ ROPS load and retention tests for five SSVs;​ and quad bike ground contact load tests. SSVs with a well‐designed rollover protection system (ROPS and 3 point or harness restraints) provide much greater rollover crashworthiness compared to quad bikes fitted with an OPD. This benefit may not apply if the rider and/or passenger do not use a helmet or the installed seat belt.