ATV accidents kill more than 800 people a year

Cherise Forno

DODGE CITY — Although injuries and deaths related to all-terrain vehicles are on the rise nationally, stricter safety regulations concerning the manufacturing and use of ATVs are not in place.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that ATV-related accidents kill about 800 people a year, including more than 100 children.

In Kansas alone, 16 people were injured and one person died in ATV accidents in Kansas in 2007, compared to 12 injuries and seven deaths in 2006, according to the Kansas Farm Bureau.

Across the nation, approximately 870 people died in ATV-related accidents in 2005, up from 606 in 2002 and 552 in 2000, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The commission estimated that an additional 146,600 people in 2006 received treatment in emergency rooms for ATV-related injuries, with children making up more than 25 percent of them. This number has risen from an estimated 10,100 injuries since 1982.

The commission also reported that ATV-related injuries in children under 16 have risen dramatically during the last decade. Since 1995, injuries in children have more than doubled, yet no age limits or regulations for youth have been implemented in response.

The commission cited lack of experience driving and operating a vehicle that size as one cause of ATV accidents. The instability of the recreational vehicles adds to the difficulty of controlling them, especially for children under 16.

John Colbert from Dodge City Harley-Davidson and Powersports said wearing a chest plate, helmet and boots is a must when operating an ATV.

With the purchase of an ATV, Dodge City Powersports provides a comprehensive training session. Customers receive hands-on training on how to safely drive a four-wheeler before they take the vehicle out of the store. Powersports also provides a free safety video with more information and safety procedures.

The CPSC does not recommend young children ride ATVs, but if they do they should successfully complete a training course, wear protective gear, have adult supervision and ride smaller, less powerful ATVs.

ATV safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Take a hands-on safety training course.

• Always wear protective gear, including a helmet, gloves, over-the-ankle boots and goggles.

• Do not drive with a passenger or ride as a passenger. Most ATVs are designed to carry one person only.

• No one under 16 should drive or ride on adult ATVs.

• Do not ride on highways or paved streets.

• Do not drive an ATV under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Source: http://www.dodgeglobe.com/news/x541351981/ATV-accidents-kill-more-than-800-people-a-year

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