ATV Safety
Created by Franklin County Young Farmers
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
June 2007
• There are 7 million ATV’s in use by 15 million
Americans
• Over 6,000 adults and children have been
killed since data collection started in 1982
•Children under the age of 16 accounted for 31%
of the 125,500 serious injuries in 2003
•In 2004, 44,770 children under the age of 16 were
treated in emergency rooms for ATV related
injuries
Damage is evident on the four-wheeler that a 5-year-
old and 3-year-old took riding. Apparently, the keys
were left in the ATV and the children decided to take it
for a ride.
•An ATV crash is 12 times as likely to kill a child as a
bicycle crash, and helmets provide only limited
protection from spinal injury.
•In Georgia, 204 children under the age of 16 have
been killed by ATV’s since 1982.
•The Consumer Product
Safety Commission found
that ATV driving has the
highest risk of
hospitalization of 33
common sports and
activities children normally
participate in.
•The American Academy of
Pediatrics state, “ Laws
should prohibit the use of
ATV’s by children and
adolescents younger than
16 years old…Children
under the age of 12 neither
possess the body size,
strength, motor skills, or
coordination to operate an
ATV.”
•90% of all ATV related fatalities are the result of
warned-against behaviors.
•90% of youth related ATV-related injuries occur
when a youth is operating an adult-sized ATV
(greater than 90 cc).
•Never ride under the influence of alcohol or
other drugs.
•Ride only on designated trails and at a safe
speed.
•Never ride on public roads- another vehicle could hit
you.
•ATV operators under 16 are nearly four times more
likely than operators over 16 to experience injury
requiring emergency room treatment.
Proper riding gear
• Approved Helmet-DOT sticker
• Eye Protection-goggles/face shield
• Gloves-off-road style
• Long-sleeved shirt/jacket-shoulder pads
encouraged
• Over-the-ankle boots
No helmets; serious injuries
James Estrada and Eric Garcia were both transported to a
local hospital in serious condition. Neither Estrada nor
Garcia was wearing a helmet.
Ride an ATV that’s right for your age
• Age 6 and older- Under 70 cc
• Age 12 and older- 70- 90 cc
• Age 16 and older- Over 90 cc
• All ATV dealers are required by law to
inform the buyer of these sizes, offer
safety education and offer safety
related equipment.