Four-wheel drive enthusiasts planning to make the most of the Easter break are reminded to be safe when using vehicle recovery straps.
Office of Fair Trading product safety expert David Strachan said recovery straps, or snatch straps as they are commonly known, could cause significant and even fatal injuries if used incorrectly.
"Snatch straps are used to connect two vehicles, usually four-wheel drives, when one vehicle is freeing another from being bogged," Mr Strachan said.
"The straps stretch a long way, and then recoil with great force to yank the bogged vehicle free.
"Unfortunately simple mistakes such as using the wrong strength snatch strap for the bogged vehicle or attaching it to the wrong part of the vehicle have resulted in a number of deaths in recent years."
Mr Strachan said, by law, all snatch straps sold in Queensland must carry prominent labelling with specific product information and instructions for use that should be closely followed to prevent serious injury.
"Most four-wheel drives have factory fitted recovery hooks at the front and rear of the vehicle to allow people to safely recover their vehicles," he said.
"When snatch straps are fitted to other parts of the car, they can rip off car parts, turning them into deadly missiles.
"Unfortunately, standard tow balls, bull bars, axles and bumpers cannot be relied upon to hold up to the tension caused by the recovery process, and have caused devastating injuries in the past."
Mr Strachan advised drivers to check where the recovery hooks are located on their car and the condition of their snatch strap before hitting the road this Easter.
If you become bogged, or come to the aid of another driver, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure a safe recovery process:
- Always choose the right strength strap for your vehicle. The recommended minimum breaking strength of the strap is twice the gross vehicle mass (GVM) of the lighter of the two vehicles involved in the recovery.
- Always check the strap is not damaged before use.
- Make sure you only attach the recovery strap to a point on the vehicle suitably rated for use with the strap.
- Move bystanders away from the vehicles to a distance of at least one and a half times the length of the un-stretched strap. Rebounding straps have killed people standing nearby in the past.
- Drape a recovery damper, heavy bag or blanket over the strap during use to reduce any unintended rebounding.
- Never use a recovery strap for lifting or conventional towing.
For more safety information about recovery straps and to download the Office of Fair Trading’s '7 easy steps for recovery (snatch) strap safety flyer' visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
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