ATV Accident Death and Injury Statistics by State – Overview
Released in January 2017, by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the 2015 Annual Report of ATV-Related Deaths and Injuries revealed 14,129 fatalities due to all-terrain vehicle accidents that year. There were also 97,200 injuries requiring emergency treatment, an increase over the 93,700 reported in 2014. Deaths and injuries from ATV accidents, including those with defects and damage that lead to fires and explosions, occur in every state.
The Commission’s list of Deaths Associated with ATVs by State includes reports from January 1, 1982, to December 31, 2015. Texas led on the list when it was released, with a total of 780 deaths over the reporting period. California, with 703, West Virginia (725), Pennsylvania (697), and Kentucky (652) were also ranked at the top. According to the Magnolia Reporter, Arkansas has one of the highest death rates for children who ride ATVs. On average, Arkansas Children’s Hospital admitted two kids per week in 2015 for emergency treatment of injuries.
Washington, D.C. has the lowest death rate due to all-terrain vehicle accidents, at six, for the CPSC’s reporting period. Rhode Island and Delaware reported ten each, while Hawaii reported 21 and Connecticut had 48 ATV-related deaths. A Centers for Disease Control study looked at trends related to ATV fatalities in West Virginia. It noted that two-thirds of fatal happened during the months of April through September and that socioeconomic factors such as poverty, lack of education, and never-married individuals had higher fatality rates.
All-Terrain Vehicle Accident Statistical Trends
Across the country, other trends have been noted. The journal Injury Prevention conducted a study using data from the CPSC and found more than 60 percent of fatalities occurred when off-road vehicles were operated on paved roads. People driving on roads were also less likely to wear helmets, and therefore suffered a higher rate of head injuries. Collisions, riders carrying multiple passengers, and multiple fatalities were also more likely when drivers navigated paved roads.
In data collected from the CPSC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, by Concerned Families for ATV Safety, Pennsylvania had the highest percentage of deaths related to all-terrain vehicle accidents, at 6.5 percent. Texas (5.1 percent), West Virginia (5.1 percent), Missouri (6 percent), and New York (4.5 percent, and with 484 deaths over the CPSC’s reporting period) followed.
How States Handle ATV Use
There are no nationwide regulations governing all-terrain vehicle use. Age restrictions, training, and licensure are managed at the state level. There are 33 states with training and licensure requirements, but 18 states don’t have these, including Washington, D.C., according to Public Health Reports. Depending on the state, there are various guidelines for certain age groups, registration renewal, carrying of passengers, and driving on public roads. Some have additional regulations. In Oregon, for example, taillights and headlights are required for when visibility is limited.
Regardless of location, the risk of ATV accidents is higher with a lack of training and experience. One must also consider safety equipment and procedures, while any damage or defects can increase the chances of a fire or explosion, which can add severe burns to the list of injuries possible from a crash.
ATV Accident Statistics
While ATVs are safer than they were several decades ago, riders and passengers are still being injured or killed in accidents every year. In fact, between 300 and 400 ATV riders in the United States annually. Some of the highest accident rates occur in West Virginia, while states like Massachusetts and Delaware rarely suffer ATV rider deaths. To see accidents rates for where you live, click your state name.