Sports

ATV accidents are preventable

By Dick Nelson

While I was saddened by a story in last week’s newspaper regarding a 7-year-old West Ghent youngster injured when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving rolled over, pinning him under the unit for an undisclosed amount of time, it served as a reminder the dangers associated with these vehicles.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are motorized vehicles used in recreational and work related outdoor activities. Most ATVs are used for “off-roading”, or riding in natural conditions, with many reaching speeds of up to 55 mph, and weighing a quarter of a ton.

The dramatic rise in injuries relating to ATV accidents is concerning to government officials who are slowly attempting to take regulatory steps to stem ATV accidents. Unfortunately, the rise in injuries and deaths keeps growing, especially in children and young people who ride on ATVs recreationally.

Experts contend that one reason for the rising death and injury rate is that the ATVs are becoming heavier, stronger and much faster. Since many young people have not handled vehicles of this magnitude, the results can be especially serious.

Many government officials are saying that age plays a significant role as a cause of ATV-related accidents. While dealers and manufacturers continue to push the limits of power and weight, more and more people are becoming killed and injured, with drivers under the age of 15 twice as likely to lose control of their ATV as an adult.

Most ATV deaths result from the vehicle overturning or hitting something. Risk factors can be reduced when riding on ATVs. In many states there is no minimum age for ATV riders nor are helmet safety laws in place, and many injuries occur without adult supervision, helmets, and on ATVs over 90cc.

Often, dealers offer optional instructions and classes on how to ride ATVs, but many people don’t take these classes, or dealers do not provide adequate training. However, the majority of ATV deaths and injuries are preventable.

There are several governmental debates currently occurring over how to create federal guidelines for ATV safety, although dealers and manufacturers tend to be against regulating the product. But ATV accidents are so dramatically on the rise that some type of regulation seems inevitable. Until that time, though, children and young people are continuing to suffer the effects of ATV accidents.

Some 75 percent of the ATV accidents result in serious damage to the head or spinal cord. Head injuries are a major cause of serious life threatening or lifelong physical problems and ailments. Injury to the spinal cord can result in paralysis of the entire body for life.

Some steps can be taken for ATV accident prevention. Young people should wear helmets, ride lighter and slower ATVs, and be monitored by an adult.

A recently released government report indicates that 555 Americans — including more than 100 youth — died from injuries sustained in all-terrain vehicle accidents nationwide last year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission further revealed that an additional 146,600 people received emergency room treatment for ATV-related injuries in 2006 (the most recent year numbers are available for).

The report also noted the top 10 states for ATV fatalities between 1982 and 2006. In order, they are Pennsylvania, 420; California, 418; West Virginia, 398; Texas, 386; Kentucky, 367; Florida, 349; Tennessee, 322; New York, 303; North Carolina, 297; and Michigan, 296.

Based on population, that means that one in every 62,500 New Yorkers will die in an ATV wreck. While some consumer groups and parents claim ATVs to be inherently unsafe, the industry points to speeding and operator judgment as contributing factors in most accidents.

For the most part, ATVs have never been shown to be an unsafe product, but there have been bad decisions made by people operating them.

Indeed, in more than 75 percent of the incidents where speed could be determined, it appeared that the ATVs were being driven too fast for conditions. In nearly 60 percent of the fatalities, riders were not wearing helmets. For younger riders (ages 6-11) about 30 percent of the ATV accidents involved collisions and at least 27 percent involved ATVs that rolled over.

Here in New York a person doesn’t need a driver’s license to operate an ATV, but restrictions do apply to drivers under age 16. For example, children 10-15 can drive an ATV only with adult supervision; without adult supervision on property where their parent or guardian is the owner or tenant; or without adult supervision on property where ATV use is permitted and the child has completed a Department of Motor Vehicle approved safety training course.

Children under the age of 10 can drive an ATV only with adult supervision; without adult supervision on property where their parent or guardian is the owner or tenant; or have written permission from the property owner.

Now I don’t know about you, but I find allowing a child under the age of 10 to take over the reins of something as potentially dangerous as an ATV without adult supervision is ridiculous. And I’m surprised state lawmakers allow it to happen.

I can say the same for some adults, who act like kids once they straddle the powerful machines. Fact is some — especially those who have been drinking — have little or no regard for where they ride, or for the concerns of private landowners. Being a kid is one thing, acting like one is another.

Dropping anchor ’til next time.

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