Quad bike safety boosted in Vic

Two Victorian farmers have been crushed to death under their quad bikes in the past three months and the government wants to make the vehicles safer.

Like the 22 who died in similar circumstances across the country last year, those deaths may have been avoided if their quad bikes had been equipped with roll-over protection devices.

Victoria will fund a $6 million subsidy scheme to provide farmers with the ability to fit the devices on existing quad bikes or help them buy a safer vehicle.

Eligible farmers will be offered up to $600 each for up to two quad bikes to fit the devices or $1200 towards the cost of buying a new one.

"Too many Victorians have died or have been seriously injured using quad bikes. That's why the Labor government is taking action to protect our farmers," Premier Daniel Andrews said on Friday.

The Victorian Farmers Federation has celebrated the announcement, describing it as a major breakthrough in protecting farmers' lives.

"It is an unacceptable toll and it's great the Victorian government has taken action," VFF president Peter Tuohey said.

It is estimated more than 5000 farmers will receive the rebate over the two-year scheme, which will be managed by WorkSafe Victoria and the VFF.