Texas Trails, Education And Motorized Management

ATV/OHV Safety Education and Training

Statistics

Not only do we help children and adults learn the laws associated with ATVs/OHVs, we are on a mission to keep riders safe. Without proper training, riders can suffer grievous injuries and even death.

Since 1982 there have been 753 deaths from ATV accidents in Texas alone. Nationwide, between 2012 and 2014 there was an average of 3.75 death every month from ATV accidents.  On average, one person dies every week in an ATV accident.

The need for safety training and strict ATV Laws will cannot be contested. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has rules of the road for safe ATV operation and they are backed by studies.

1. “Do not drive on a paved road” comes from the fact that 10.4% of injuries and 34.4% of fatalities occur on paved roads/surfaces.

2. “Do not allow a child younger than 16 years of age to drive or ride with an adult”. ATVs are not toys, young riders are in even greater danger due to the fact that 25.8% of injuries and 17.8% of fatalities were children younger than age 16.

3. “Do not drive with a passenger or ride as a passenger”. Only ATVs specifically designed to carry passengers should carry more than one person. This is extremely important because 31.5% of injuries and 23.0% of fatalities involve multiple riders.

4. “Always wear a helmet and other protective gear such as eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.” We know Texas gets hot and all of these extras won’t keep you cool, but these items are essential to safety and prevention of loss of life. Especially since 56.9% of injuries 66.0% of fatalities occur when no protective gear is worn.

5. “Take a hands-on safety course”. It has been proven that taking a safety course diminishes your odds of injury or death. On average, only 2.5% of injured and 0.2% of dead drivers have been trained.

6. “Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs “. We all know not to drink and drive, this goes for ATVs as well since 5.1% of injuries and 10.2% of dead drivers were under the influence of alcohol.

7. “Ride an ATV that is right for the rider’s age”. On average, 3.1% of injuries and 0.7% of fatalities occurred on youth ATVs.

8. “Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed”. It was found that 25.8% of injuries occur at speeds greater than 20mph.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a copy of this list of Golden Rules and has all statistics for injuries and fatalities by state for public view. You can find these lists on their website here

Remember, whether riding for enjoyment for using an ATV for work purposes, safety is the most important part of ATV use.