NEWS

ATV safety is important

Ohio

School's out for summer and longer, warmer days bring plenty of opportunities for all-terrain vehicle use for both work and play. According to Ohio law, no one under age 16 may operate an ATV unless on land owned by a parent or accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Thanks to the educational efforts of many and an increased awareness of ATV safety, the numbers continue to decline for injuries and deaths associated with ATV use since 2007.

However, just one death is one death too many. In the last 30 years, there have been more than 300 ATV related deaths in Ohio, and 75 of those were children under age 16. In one-third of the ATV fatalities in the US the drivers were on paved surfaces. ATVs are designed to be ridden off road; they behave differently on paved surfaces so extreme caution should be used when crossing a paved road.

There are several practices you can follow to reduce risks for both youth and adults while operating ATVs. Never carry a passenger on an ATV designed for one person. And even if you have a two person ATV, do not allow children to ride with the operator during work tasks. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, children under 6 should never be on an ATV. When determining whether a youth is ready to operate an ATV, remember to consider both physical and cognitive development. Be sure that your child understands that unsafe or reckless behavior can result in injury or death.

Wearing appropriate protective gear is a great place to start to reduce risks of serious injury. A helmet is the most important piece of personal protective equipment that an ATV operator can wear. You should also check tire pressure, throttle and brakes every time before you ride. Many accidents occur on sloped terrain. It is very important to understand how your body weight in the operator's seat can significantly change the ATVs center of gravity. Feet should always remain on footrests and you should lean your body weight uphill to avoid an overturn.

When using ATVs for agricultural use remember to divide loads between front and rear carrying racks and never to carry more than one-third of the ATVs weight on a rear carrying rack. If towing a load with an ATV, the load must not weigh more than the weight of the ATV plus the weight of the operator. Also be sure to only hitch to the manufacture's hitch point.

Many farms also use utility type vehicles (UTV) to assist with hauling feed and other supplies for small jobs or for towing implements. Utility-type vehicles are designed to be driven, while ATVs are to be ridden. Remember that UTVs are tools, not toys. There are considerations of safe operation for UTVs as well. For more information visit agsafety.osu.edu or atvsafety.org. Ride safe. Ride smart. Have fun.

Emily Adams is the Ohio State University Extension educator for Coshocton County. She can be reached at 740-622-2265 or adams.661@osu.edu.