ATV Accident Death and Injury Statistics - Alaska

Between 1982 and 2015, 193 ATV accident deaths were reported in Alaska, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics reported 14 deaths by unintentional injury involving all-terrain vehicles in 2013, 7 in 2012, and 2 in 2011, reflecting the increase in deaths and injuries nationwide due to crashes and fires or explosions involving ATVs. There were five occupant fatalities in 2013 alone, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Facts report, citing data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

In Alaska, a strict law forbids anyone under 14 years old from driving an ATV in a state park. They must be supervised by an adult 21 or older to do so. Under state law, an all-terrain vehicle is one that is self-propelled and has three wheels or more. It may have two or more tracks or treads. Also, such a vehicle weighs under 800 pounds and is less than 75 inches wide. Built for travel over “unimproved terrain,” it can have low-pressure tires or metal/rubberized tracks or treads.

Alaska has a high per capita use of all-terrain vehicles. People often use them to access remote areas and places where there are no roads. It’s common to use them for work, recreation, or even basic transportation.

ATV Injuries and Helmet Use

The absence of a helmet is a factor in many injuries. A study by the International Journal of Circumpolar Health, published in 2014, found more of the 921 injured children looked at were Alaska Natives (51 percent) than non-natives (49 percent). Natives were more likely not to wear helmets when using off-road motorized vehicles. The study concluded 33 percent of the patients wore helmets, 38 percent did not and, for 29 percent, it wasn’t reported whether the person was wearing a helmet or not.

Accident Causes in Alaska

Several common causes of accidents have been identified in the state, which leads to deaths and injuries. One is driving an all-terrain vehicle on paved surfaces, which is a common issue nationwide. Other causes include carrying a passenger on a vehicle designed for only one rider, driver inexperience, and riding on unfamiliar terrain. Riders have also been injured doing stunts and other dangerous maneuvers and while violating state laws and local ordinances.

However, driving on roadways is a major concern in Alaska, where 63 percent of ATV accidents occur on roads, according to the Alaska Department of Public Safety. Weather conditions, tailgating, night riding, towing, and riding in avalanche areas have been identified as risk factors as well. Impact injuries from crashes are not the only concerns. Some all-terrain vehicles are prone to defects and damage that can cause fires and, in rare cases, explosions, resulting in serious burns and bodily harm.