ATV-related deaths and injuries have substantially increased across all age groups, as bigger and faster all-terrain vehicles have been introduced in the past decade. Children younger than 16 face the highest risks. Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center recommends parents exercise extreme caution when determining if a child may ride or drive an ATV.

“ATVs are becoming a popular form of recreation, especially among children. It is important for riders to be aware of the dangers associated with them and remember to put safety first,” said Dr. Jeff Sawyer, orthopaedic surgeon at Le Bonheur and member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The average ATV weighs 550 pounds and is capable of traveling as fast as 75 mph. Children often lack the physical strength, cognitive abilities and fine motor skills needed to operate ATVs properly. Each year in the United States, more than 100 children ages 16 and younger are killed on all-terrain vehicles and approximately 45,000 are injured, according to Safe Kids Mid-South. Children younger than 16 who ride ATVs are four times more likely than ATV operators older than 16 to experience injury requiring emergency room treatment.

The injuries sustained during an ATV accident are typically severe. “We’ve treated a large number of kids with intra-abdominal and chest injuries. Many kids get bone fractures, but they are typically not as life threatening injuries like head trauma. Closed head injuries are probably the most devastating to families,” Sawyer said.

Susan Helms, director of injury prevention and Safe Kids, said, “An ATV crash is 12 times as likely to kill a child as a bicycle accident. While very important, helmets provide only limited protection. No safety device can protect against the spinal and abdominal injuries commonly caused by ATV rollovers, collisions and ejections.”

Le Bonheur reminds parents that ATVs are not toys and can cause serious injury and even death. Safe Kids Mid-South recommends that children younger than 16 should never ride on or operate ATVs of any size, including youth-sized ATVs. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends that the minimum age for operating an ATV on and off the road should be at least 16 years old. Parents should use extreme caution.

It is also important that children and parents follow their state laws regarding ATV usage.
Arkansas:  All ATVs are required to be registered, and the owner will receive a numbered decal for the ATV. No ATV shall be operated without a lighted headlight and taillight from ½ hour after sunset and ½ hour before sunrise. Children younger than 12 cannot ride ATVs without adult supervision, unless with a person age 18 or older, or on a parent’s land, or with the land owner.  ATVs must be ridden off-road, except to cross roads for farming or hunting one field to another. An ATV may be used on public streets outside city limits to get from one trail to another property.

Mississippi:  All ATVs will be titled by the state. An ATV owner or another in possession of an ATV may not knowingly permit a person younger than age 21 to operate an ATV. Safety gear must be worn at all times. No ATVs are allowed on any public road open to licensed motorized vehicles or on power line/ pipeline rights of way. No loaded weapon may be in possession while on an ATV.

Tennessee:  All ATVs must be titled with the owner receiving one identification device that shall be placed in the ATV. All riders (operators and passengers) on three-wheeled ATVs in designated state park areas must wear head and eye protection at all times. Four-wheeled ATVs are prohibited in state parks. ATV use on highways is prohibited, except to cross these roads.