Ohio ATV Accidents Accure More Often Than You Think

Ohio ATV Accidents Accure More Often Than You Think

Ohioan’s See There Fare Share of Ohio ATV Accidents With Over 100,000 Injuries Country Wide Per Year

According to data collected by the Mayo clinic, ATV accidents are increasing across the country. ATV use is popular in Ohio, and consequently, many adults and children are seriously injured or killed each year in ATV accidents. Children account for about one-third of ATV injuries and one-quarter of ATV fatalities, the Mayo Clinic reports. This increase in accidents and deaths from ATVs has officially surpassed the number of children injured or killed in bicycle accidents in 2014. [http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/clinical-updates/trauma/all-terrain-vehicles-too-much-for-kids-handle, November 2014]

Ohioan’s sees a large number of Ohio ATV accidents and fatalities yearly. Data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that between 2008 and 2011, 82 ATV-related deaths occurred in Ohio. Between 1982 and 2007, 80 children under the age of 16 died as a result of ATV accidents. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that around 100,000 individuals are injured each year in ATV accidents. Of that number, approximately 30,000 are children. The most common injuries from ATV accidents in Ohio and around the country included arm injuries and head or neck injuries, the CPSC reports.

Ohio has specific laws for safety requirements for ATV drivers driving on state lands, but drivers are not restricted while driving on private properties. ATV drivers must wear eye protection and helmets while driving on state roads and public lands. Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to operate ATVs on public lands without an adult. [http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/ATV-Safety-Information-Center/Death-Associated-With-ATVs-by-State-/, November 2014] [http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Injury-Statistics/atv2011.pdf, November 2014]

According to Mayo Clinic injury prevention coordinator Todd M. Emanuel, R.N, ATVs are prone to accidents because they have a high center of gravity and are easy to tip over. “Most kids don’t have the size, physical strength and balance to control these vehicles, especially adult-sized ones. It’s just too much machine for small bodies,” he told the Mayo Clinic. Additional passengers can make ATVs even more unstable. According to Emanuel, rollover accidents in ATVs are the most common due to the unstable center of gravity. He told the Mayo Clinic that driving ATVs on paved roads is particularly dangerous because the wheels do not contact the pavement the same way car wheels do. According to data from The University of Iowa, alcohol also plays a large role in ATV accidents. 35 percent of injured patients tested positive for alcohol and 25 percent tested positive for drugs.

A few simple changes in how Ohioans operate ATV vehicles can significantly reduce the number and severity of ATV accidents.

  • Always wear a helmet just as required by state law, even on private property.
  • Avoid driving ATVs on paved roads.
  • Keep additional passengers to a minimum to avoid gravitational upset.
  • Never operate ATV vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Pay careful attention to surroundings and avoid areas with drop-offs, trees, and objects sticking out from the ground, such as sharp rocks or stumps.
  • Do not allow children under the age of 16 to operate an ATV unsupervised.
  • Always wear a helmet just as required by state law, even on private property.
  • Avoid driving ATVs on paved roads.
  • Keep additional passengers to a minimum to avoid gravitational upset.
  • Never operate ATV vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Pay careful attention to surroundings and avoid areas with drop-offs, trees, and objects sticking out from the ground, such as sharp rocks or stumps.
  • Do not allow children under the age of 16 to operate an ATV unsupervised.

Implementing these simple tips can go a long way toward preventing ATV injuries and fatalities in Ohio.

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