Laws, other factors contribute to high ATV death rate

Related:

• ATV deaths in the Tri-State
• State laws regarding ATVs

HUNTINGTON -- While millions of ATV riders focus on the thrill and excitement of riding fast through trails, ATV riding has proved to be a dangerous activity that claimed the lives of 11 people in September and 43 so far this year.

James Helmkamp, director of the West Virginia University Injury Control Research Center, has focused on ATV injuries and accidents for 10 years. His job is to identify the number of deaths occurring in the state and determine the factors that lead to injuries.

What he's finding is that a variety of issues contribute to deaths and injuries, including the use of alcohol and drugs and other poor choices, such as poor supervision of children, improper use of ATVs and neglect in using safety equipment.

He and others involved in studying the issue or overseeing facilities used by ATV riders say stricter laws could reduce the number of deaths or injuries.

For example, Helmkamp and John Fekete, deputy director of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, both said it is irresponsible for the legislature not to set stricter limitations for ATV riders on paved surfaces. On the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, Fekete said he and his staff enforce their own regulations in addition to the state regulations established in 2004.

"Some of the laws are poorly written," Fekete said. "We need more specific laws that would make it easier for law enforcement to enforce them."

Here's a look at the issues that Helmkamp and others, including ATV riders, contribute to safety problems with ATVs.

Alcohol and drugs

Helmkamp said 30 percent of the people who have died this year had taken drugs or alcohol. Because it is a recreational activity, Helmkamp said many people don't see the danger in mixing alcohol and drugs with ATV riding. Enforcement, he said, is difficult because local authorities cannot catch inebriated ATV riders with checkpoints, as they can with automobile drivers.

Fekete has found that alcohol plays a major role in the injuries that occur on the trails. Though it is not allowed on the 600 miles of ATV trails in Southern West Virginia, Fekete said alcohol still factors into accidents.

Jeff Scott, volunteer fire chief for Upper Township, Ohio, said alcohol is the number one reason for accidents in his area. Scott said he regularly rescues ATV riders from the Wayne National Forest ATV trials in Hanging Rock.

"I've hauled a lot of people out of there who haven't had a drink, but we've hauled a lot more out that have alcohol in their system," Scott said.

Scott and his department has hauled so many ATV riders out of the trails that he has designed and built a rescue tow-along that carries the riders to safety.

Kenny Compton, founder of the Mountain State Off-Road Rider's Club in Milton, said none of his 146 members is allowed to have any alcohol during the club's rides.

"We wouldn't have anyone ride with us if they were drinking," Compton said. "Being in a club keeps people from doing the things they shouldn't do. Our goal is to promote riding, but to do it in a safe and legal way."

Paved surfaces

Due to the design of ATV tires with "aggressive treads," Helmkamp said ATVs should not be ridden on paved surfaces. Helmkamp said 80 percent of the ATV riders who have died this year were riding on paved roads.

"These tires aren't designed to grab hard surfaces," Helmkamp said. "Paved roads are contributing to a lot of deaths. ATVs should not be allowed on any paved surfaces throughout the state."

While Fekete agrees that ATVs need to be operated safely and slowly on paved surfaces, he said municipalities need to take it upon themselves to limit the speed of ATVs on roads. Speeds should be limited to 25 miles per hour on paved roads, Fekete said.

Lack of safety equipment

Though he doesn't like seeing so many kids riding ATVs without helmets, Scott said it happens constantly. He also noted that most teenagers are not serious about wearing safety equipment. With so many riders getting hurt and the power that ATVs have, Scott said he recommends everyone, especially children, take the ATV safety course with the ATV Safety Institute.

Wayne Massie, founding member of the Hanging Rock ATV Club in Ohio, said before anyone in his family rides, including his 8-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter, they must always have on their safety gear.

In order to ride the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, Fekete said all ATV riders must have on the proper safety equipment, including eye protection and a helmet.Fekete said people need to wear boots, chest protectors, gloves, goggles and helmets to protect themselves against injury.

Parents, Helmkamp said, need to wear their safety equipment to set a good example for their kids.

"You can protect your child from everything, but being a good example for them by wearing your safety equipment is important," Helmkamp said.

Doubling up

ATV riders Dave and Tina Barrack attributed accidents to irresponsibility. Individuals and parents should know the limitations of their vehicles, and doubling up, or having two people ride on an ATV designed to hold one, causes a lot of injuries, they said.

"There's no danger in ATVing, there's only danger with the rider," Tina Barrack said. "All of our kids ride ATVs, but we make sure they always have their gear and wear it. Any parent who rides (on the same ATV) with their kids is irresponsible."

Helmkamp noted that 19 percent of those who have died this year were riding doubled up on ATVs. Helmkamp said putting too much weight on a vehicle is extremely dangerous.

"When you double up, you upset the careful dynamics of the ATV that is needed to operate it safely," Helmkam said.

"When you ride an ATV you have to go by what the manufacturers recommend," Fekete said. "They determine what the ATV can do."

Unsafe rider-vehicle match

Massie said it is each parent's responsibility to make sure children are riding safely and precautions are taken. To ensure the safety of his son, Massie said he has a remote to his son's 72cc ATV that limits his speed.

Compton said parents need to regulate the vehicles they and their children operate. His club, he said, makes sure that young riders are only operating vehicles made for their size.

"It is irresponsible for children to be on machines that are way too big for them," Fekete said. "It's ridiculous for a 5-year-old to be riding an 800-pound machine."

Helmkamp said kids do not have the physical strength and honed capabilities to operate a large ATV safely. Children, he added, are also not able to recognize a hazard as quickly as an adult can.

The Barracks said they drive all over to ride trails on their ATVs. While they do take trips with their kids, they said they ride the trails first in order to make sure their kids will be able to handle the terrain.

Fekete said four children have died from ATV-related injuries this year.

Future for ATVs

After studying and researching the causes of ATV accidents in the state, Helmkamp is actively pursing changes in the state's ATV regulations. With so many deaths occurring on paved surfaces, Helmkamp said he is suggesting that ATVs be no longer allowed to operate on paved roads. Also, stricter enforcement for the state's helmets laws are needed to ensure rider safety.

To decrease the number of injuries and deaths among children ATV riders, Helmkamp said it is imperative to regulate ATV use by children. It is also important, he said to make sure ATVs match the child's weight and size.

Compton, however, said that no matter the laws, people are not going to follow them.

"Even if they make stricter laws with helmets, people are still going to ride without them," Compton said. "No matter the laws you pass, it's not going to make a difference because you can't change how people act."

Fekete said the operators of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails are also pursuing changes to ATV regulations. With better, more detailed laws on the books, he said local authorities will be able to cut down on unsafe driving by ATV riders.

Chris Harris/The Herald-Dispatch Riders participate in the Fall Rock 'n' Roll Rally at the Wayne National Forest ATV trails Oct. 20. While millions of ATV riders focus on the thrill and excitement of riding fast through trails, ATV riding has proved to be a dangerous activity that claimed the lives of 11 people in September and 43 so far this year.