Posted November 1, 2006

Always Think Safety

We all have a lot of fun riding our ATVs but we all have to think SAFETY FIRST. Not only is that important for our own well-being and those we ride with, but unsafe riders cause problems for all of us.

It's very difficult to talk to lawmakers at the local, state, and even federal level to try to get laws to benefit ATVers, or change laws that hurt us, when the decision-makers watch TV or read the newspaper and see news items that reflect poorly on our sport.

Here are a few examples of items that have been in the news lately that show how important it is to use your head when you ride, or when supervising younger riders.

In Cleveland in July, a jury awarded the family of a woman killed in an ATV accident $1.2 million. In 2003, Adam Brown Jr. was riding a one-person ATV with January Pearce as a passenger.

He lost control of the ATV and his passenger fell off, hitting a tree.

The jury decided that Brown drove recklessly and caused Pearce's death.

In Greencastle, Pennsylvania, a woman was charged with multiple charges, including permitting unlawful persons to drive a vehicle, and endangering the welfare of children, following a July 9 crash that injured four juveniles.

The woman allegedly was riding an ATV with an 11-year-old boy seated in front of the handlebars, and her 7-year-old daughter riding on the seat with her.

Another ATV was ridden by her 11-year-old son, and he had an 8-year-old boy riding with him.

At some point, the two ATVs collided and all four kids were hurt.

In Wilmington, Delaware, the parents of a 9-year-old boy face possible charges in the death of their son. The boy was riding a machine too powerful for him, police said, and he hit a tree and was killed.

In Omaha, Nebraska, a 17-year-old youth was killed when he was riding an ATV on the street and hit an SUV at an intersection.

© 2006, All Terrain Vehicle Association