Another tragic death of an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) rider has occurred in Florida. In this instance it was the passenger, a teenager, who was killed. Florida continues to have more than its share of serious injuries and deaths from ATV accidents each year. Many of the victims are children.
The St. Petersburg Times provides more of the details:
More than 15-million people nationwide ride ATVs, according to the industry, and about 900,000 of them were sold last year. As sales have revved up, so has the number of people who have been hurt riding them.
Scott Wolfson, spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said, “We have data that’s showing more than 400 deaths per year with ATVs nationally, and the state of Florida ranks among the top 10 in ATV-related deaths. We have seen an increase in death and injuries as these ATVs have become more popular.”
That includes 72 deaths in Florida from 2002 through 2004, the last period for which data is available, Wolfson said.
About a third of deaths and injuries involve victims under 16.
Consumer and industry advocates stress that following safety rules, even voluntary ones, can prevent accidents: never ride an ATV intended for one person with a passenger; never ride an ATV on paved surfaces; always wear a helmet; and never let a child younger than 16 get on an adult-size machine.
The Legal Examiner and our Affiliate Network strive to be the place you look to for news, context, and more, wherever your life intersects with the law.
Comments for this article are closed.