ATV Safety

Information

Statistics: ATV-Related Injuries and Fatalities

• Consumer Product Safety Commision Statistics
  
  • South Carolina Statistics
    
    • Child fatalities 1982-2004: 28
    • Child injuries per year, estimated: 450 {CY 2007}
  • National Statistics
    
    • Child fatalities 1982-2004: 6,899
    • Child injuries per year, estimated: 40,000 {CY 2007}
• Children under 16 accounted for 30% of all off-road vehicle injuries in 2005. {Source: CPSC-2005 Annual}

States with ATV Safety Laws

• 44 states have ATV safety laws. South Carolina is not one of the 44 states.
• Table: State Laws on OHV {off-highway vehicles) and ATVs
• 28 states have minimum operator age requirements {with or without adult supervision}
• 31 states require helmets for ATV use
• The South Carolina House of Representatives passed H3681 "Chandler's Law" in April 2009. The bill is currently residing on the Senate's calendar. View bill.

Why ATVs are Especially Dangerous for Children

• Power, Weight, and Size
  
  
  • ATVs can weigh up to 600 pounds and reach speeds of 75 miles per hour. Average adult sized ATV weighs 550 pounds.
  • More than 95% of children injured on ATVs were riding adult-sized ATVs despite industry recommendations.
  • Unlike a car, there is no seat belt or metal frame to protect the rider in the event of a collision or rollover.
  • ATVs are commonly driven on uneven terrain, making them even more difficult to maneuver.
  • "Driving an ATV requires the rider to make instantaneous decisions and adjustments. CPSC states that "children do not have the physical or mental abilities to make these complex, split-second decisions."
• Factors Associated with ATV-Related Injuries in Children
  
  
  • No helmet use
  • Poor judgment and risk-taking behaviors
  • Male gender
  • Operating an ATV larger than recommended for their size and age
  • Lack of physical size, strength, and coordination to operate an ATV
  • Increased driving exposure
  • Operating on public roads, streets, and highways
  • Riding with a passenger

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement & Recommendations

• policy statement
• Children under age 16 should not drive ATVs
• "Laws should prohibit the use of ATVs, on- or off-road, by children and adolescents younger than 16 years. An automobile driver's license, and preferably some additional certification in ATV use, should be required to operate an ATV. The safe use of ATVs requires the same or greater skill, judgment, and experience as needed to operate an automobile. " (AAP, Policy Statement, All-Terrain Vehicle Injury Prevention: Two-, Three-, and Four-Wheeled Unlicensed Motor Vehicles, 2000)
• The American Academy of Pediatrics also described child ATV use as "the perfect recipe for tragedy" in a July 13, 2005 press release.

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Position Statement & Recommendations

• position statement
• The AAOS considers ATVs to "be a significant public health risk".
• 1992 Position Statement: "The minimum age of 16 for operating an ATV on or off the road should be enforced. Children under the age of 12 generally posess neither the body size and strength, nor the motor skills and coordination necessary for the safe handling of an ATV. Children under age 16 generally have not yet developed the perceptual abilities or the judgment required for the safe use of highly powered vehicles.

Contact Information and Links