Oklahoman Editorial: ATV trouble: Let’s keep off-road vehicles off roads

Here are some headlines that have appeared in The Oklahoman in recent months:

"McAlester man dies after ATV rollover”

"ATV wreck kills two”

"Man dies in ATV accident”

"ATV accident kills driver from Texas”

And, last week, there was this one:

"ATVs bound for streets? State legislator defends vehicle’s safety, gasoline savings”

The first four headlines are self-explanatory. The last involves a story about state Rep. Wallace Collins’ misguided effort to allow all-terrain vehicles on state roads. Collins, D-Norman, said he is likely to draft legislation next session to make ATVs street legal, as a way to help folks offset high gas prices. "I don’t really see a downside to this,” he said.

Perhaps the state Health Department could enlighten him. Two years ago, 19 people died in ATV accidents in Oklahoma. Last year, the number was 16. Of course those totals pale in comparison with the number of people killed annually in auto and motorcycle accidents, but ATVs presently aren’t exposed to the traffic found on city and state roads, either.

Collins isn’t the only lawmaker kicking around the idea. Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, wants to allow ATVs on roads with speed limits below 40 mph, and would let cities and towns decide whether to allow them on their streets. That approach is more palatable, but we’re uneasy with these off-road vehicles making their way onto streets and highways.

ATV enthusiasts argue that the vehicles are safe. We’re inclined to agree with the sentiments of ATV salesman Don Maxey. His take: "They weren’t designed to be on the interstate — period.”

Source: http://newsok.com/atv-trouble-lets-keep-off-road-vehicles-off-roads/article/3313680

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