ATVs a fatal attraction for many teens

Written by Pocono Record

Friday, August 21, 2009

Editorial

Last Friday night outside Williamsport, two 18-year-olds driving two all-terrain vehicles crashed head-on in a field. The boys, 2009 graduates of Jersey Shore High School, died of their injuries. A 14-year-old passenger was critically injured. Not one was wearing a helmet.

Their story is another in a long series of tragic mishaps on ATVs, which don't require a driver's license and which by their very nature invite risk-taking. According to police investigators, family members and friends witnessed the accident from the porch of one of the victims.

ATV manufacturers market their product as a thrill ride, and that's pretty much what they offer. Problem is, young people don't really grasp the possibility of death or serious injury. They don't fully understand the myriad risks of driving without the sensible rules that govern road traffic or of speeding across terrain that practically promises perilous accidents. The rutted trails, rocky hillsides or bumpy fields that create the excitement of an ATV ride also can turn a fast and fun ride fatal in seconds. Nor did these young ATV riders pause at the added hazard of riding after dark. The crash occurred at 9:10 p.m., an hour after sunset.

On-road driving has built-in safeguards. Obtaining a driver's license requires extensive training followed by a written and road test. And driving on public roadways forces motorists to observe rules designed to promote individual and public safety, not risk-taking. Violators subject themselves to costly traffic tickets or the loss of their license if they are caught breaking those rules.

Not so for ATVs. Sure, they are great fun. But they also pose horrific danger. And the assumption of risk falls entirely on the shoulders of the operator. Anyone who owns such a vehicle should think long and hard about the potential risks to themselves and others before climbing aboard. That risk only rises when it comes to ATV keys in the hands of high-spirited teenagers.

Life is precious. But ATVs inherently threaten lives. Each time someone rides, every ATV owner should ask: Is the fun worth the risk? For these two bereaved Pennsylvania families, the answer is no.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

State by State Momentum

Community Voices

“During the past decade, I have personally had six out of seven elk hunts ruined by the careless intrusions of ATV operators. This epidemic has forced me to abandon one prime hunting area after another, only to encounter the same situation elsewhere. The shameful part of this picture is that the overwhelming majority of these ATV’ers are young and healthy, not decrepit or physically challenged. Maybe these riders would be more respectful of other people's outdoor experience if they knew we could ID them."

- Bill Sustrich, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers