Texas is second only to California in the number of ATV sales throughout the United States. Along with this, Texas also reports the most deaths. For the 27-year period between 1982 and 2008, Texas reported 535 deaths because of ATVs, only 12 less than California’s 547.

The number of deaths caused by ATV crashes has slowly risen in tandem with their popularity, hitting its peak in 2006, before seeing a slight decline afterward due to improved safety features and laws limiting the age of riders.

However, injuries and even deaths on ATVs are not yet a thing of the past. Whether using ATVs for recreational purposes, sport, or a means of transportation, it is important to remember that accidents can and will happen. Statistics do not always apply to the individual. The number of ATV deaths may only account for a small percentage of US deaths, but this does not make riding without the proper precautions ok.

In Texas, all ATV operators under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, and children under 15 are limited to an engine of 90cc or smaller. Still, in 2012, 15% of ATV fatalities were children under the age of 16, and of those, more than half were under 12 years of age.

Injuries are much more common, averaging at about 125,000 per year since 2007, there are probably a greater number or injuries, but these are only reported injuries that required hospital or doctor attention. Of these, over 85% have been easily treatable and patients were dismissed from the hospital immediately.

Of the more serious injuries, Contusions/Abrasions (intense bruising/scrapes) and Fractures were the most common, each being 24% of the total. The most common area of the body injured is the arms, accounting for 29% of injury locations. Though the torso, legs, and head/neck follows closely behind, holding 22%, 21%, and 27%.

In cases where a passenger is involved, the most common situation is one in which two people are riding on an ATV at once. In Fatal accidents where more than one person was on an ATV, 88% involved a driver and a passenger. However, this may be because two is the most common number when considering an ATV supporting more than one person.

The most dangerous position for a passenger is sitting behind the driver on the seat, or on the back of the ATV. Though positioning does not always have a great effect, as three out of four times, the death of the passenger will result in the death of the driver as well. In the state of Texas, a passenger will not be allowed on public lands unless the ATV is designed to carry more than one person.

The most commonly recommended piece of equipment recommended for ATVs is the helmet, due to the fact that most ATV fatalities are the result of injuries to the head. In terms of injuries, the helmet does not do much, as much more injuries damage the limbs and torso in comparison to the head alone. However In deaths, over 66% were not wearing a helmet when they died on an ATV. Another 20% were unverified, so it is unclear whether they were wearing a helmet or not upon death. It is clear, however, that wearing a helmet can greatly decrease the chances of death while on an ATV.

UTVs, or “utility terrain vehicles,” have also risen in popularity, as they can carry more than one driver and can be used to store and haul equipment and supplies. “I prefer a UTV to an ATV,” said Brian Taylor, owner of Cypress ATV repair and services, “Because it has a roll cage and seat belts.”
Though they are the safer choice, said Taylor, they are more pricy than ATVs, as well as less nimble and manoeuvrable.

“ATVs are a lot of fun, but they need to be supervised… they can be dangerous,” said Derek Macjeski, a student at the school who rides ATVs for fun. He stated that as long as ATVs are properly handled, they can serve as relatively safe, fun, recreational devices.

However some feel that ATVs are not worth the risks. Student Jacob Zillifro feels that ATVs are not worth the risk. Despite being in a family of ATV owners, he says he doesn’t ride them much anymore “Because [he] found out how dangerous they can be if you crash”.

But for many, ATVs are more than fun or sport, they are a method of transportation. On some large ranches and farms, of which there are an abundance of in Texas, ATVs are the primary method of getting around. In the case of Hudson Folkerts, a young man who died in an ATV accident, his mother had this to say.

“Our children were raised on a ranch, and this is a means to get around. Hudson was on an ATV since he was two years old.”