All-terrain vehicles are one of the most popular outdoor activities in America — but they are also one of the most dangerous. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports an annual average of more than 700 deaths and an estimated 100,000 emergency department-treated injuries involving ATVs and other off-highway vehicles every year. The dangers are real and include overturning, collisions, and occupant ejection — and many of these incidents are entirely preventable.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Children and inexperienced riders are at the highest risk of serious injury or death. Many deaths and injuries occur when an inexperienced driver loses control of an ATV, is thrown from the vehicle, overturns it, or collides with a fixed object or motor vehicle. Children younger than 16 should never ride adult ATVs — they should only ride age-appropriate youth models, which are required to travel at lower speeds and have an adjustable speed limiter. CPSC is also deeply concerned that some states and local governments are changing their laws to allow ATVs on paved roads. ATVs are designed for off-road terrain only and are difficult to control on paved surfaces, where they risk overturning or colliding with cars and trucks.
Safety Tips
- Get hands-on training from a qualified instructor before riding. Courses are offered by the ATV Safety Institute (ASI). Riders can also check with the National 4-H Council, local ATV rider groups, state agencies, and some ATV manufacturers.
- Always wear a helmet certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and/or the Snell Memorial Foundation, along with goggles, gloves, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and over-the-ankle boots.
- Never ride with more passengers than there are seats. Most ATVs are designed for one rider only.
- Riders younger than 16 should only ride age-appropriate youth model ATVs and never adult ATVs.
- Never ride on paved roads except to cross where permitted by law.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Children younger than 16 should not ride adult ATVs under any circumstances.
To learn more about ATV injury and death data by state, visit www.ATVsafety.gov. To report an unsafe ATV or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/ATV-Safety-Information-Center
