Further Reading

ATVs – Should children be driving these?

by Tariq M. Khan, M.D., F.A.A.P.

We know ATVs are a way of life for some folks and provide a source for outdoor fun, but they pose a significant risk to children. Children and young adolescents lack the knowledge, physical size, strength, and cognitive and motor skills to operate an ATV safely.

Pediatricians and leading medical experts say young children haven’t developed the strength, coordination, or judgment needed to safely handle these powerful machines. Across the country, ATVs seriously injure and kill over 40,000 children under age 16 every year as quoted in studies and news articles. This brings to the forefront the need to educate parents and families to keep children under age 16 from driving these powerful vehicles.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOP) have adopted formal policies recommending that children under age 16 not drive ATVs. Over the past decade, the number of children killed in off-road vehicle accidents increased by more than 80% due to popularity and easy availability of the vehicles. (Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2005 and 1995 Annual Report of All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)-Related Deaths and Injuries).

Just look at these facts reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2005 Annual Report of All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)-Related Deaths and Injuries:

  • 120 children died in off-road vehicle accidents in 2005 compared to 64 in 1995.
  • Between 1995 and 2005, ATVs killed at least 1,218 children under age 16. These children account for 27% of all ATV-related deaths during this period.
  • Over the past decade, the number of children hospitalized increased by 109%.
  • More than 44,000 children were hospitalized due to accidents on ATVs in 2005 compared to 19,300 in 1995.
  • Children under 16 accounted for 30% of all off-road vehicle injuries in 2005.

Also, there were about 1,117,000 emergency room visits and 495 deaths due to ATV injuries nationwide in 2001, increases of 211% and 159% respectively from 1993. Estimated national costs of ATV-associated injuries are $3.24 billion a year.. (Neurosurgery, October 2011 – the official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

The above facts should be enough encourage the parents to not allow their young and under age children to operate ATVs until they are of appropriate age and can safely operate these machines.

Have a fun and safe summer season!