Tougher ATV-safety law needed, many say

Randy Ludlow 

Twelve-year-old Matthew Good was tooling around alone in a field behind his grandmother's house in Ross County.

Ronald D. Thompson, a 49-year-old from Columbus, was riding down a rural Hocking County road at 2 a.m.

Both died Saturday on all-terrain vehicles: Good when his four-wheeler overturned, and Thompson when his ATV hit a tree.

Their deaths underline a trend that seemingly reflects a rising number of deaths among ATV riders in Ohio.

A Columbus researcher who has studied deaths and injuries on all-terrain vehicles remains distressed that no steps have been taken to increase the safety of riders, particularly children.

"It's really a mismatch," Gary Smith said of children and ATVs.

Those younger than 16 "simply don't possess the judgment, coordination and strength to operate complex machines like an ATV," said Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

More than a year ago, Smith called for mandatory helmet laws, passenger restrictions and a ban on those ages 12 to 15 from even riding ATVs.

Neither federal nor state officials have enacted reforms.

At least 87 people died in all-terrain-vehicle accidents in Ohio between 2003 and 2006, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. About a third were children, Smith said.

Many ATV accidents are the result of inexperienced or younger riders operating a vehicle that is too large or powerful for their size, said Sgt. Tim Karwatske, spokesman for the State Highway Patrol.

Those age 16 or older may legally drive ATVs off-road in Ohio. Children ages 12 to 15 may operate ATVs on land owned by their parents or if accompanied by an adult. No helmet is required except when riding on state land.

Neither Good nor Thompson was wearing a helmet Saturday.

Many states require helmets and safety training; Ohio requires neither.

Helmets dramatically decrease traumatic head and brain injuries, which are the leading cause of ATV deaths, Smith said.

The ATV Safety Institute, a nonprofit organization formed by major manufacturers, urges all riders to get safety training, wear helmets and other protective gear, and never carry passengers on single-rider ATVs.

For ATV safe-riding information, visit www.atvsafety.org.

Source: http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/01/ATV.ART_ART_10-01-08_B3_C0BFR0C.html?sid=101

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