As of August 13, 2016, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) said it has documented 335 fatalities this year involving what it calls "off-highway vehicles" or OHVs. That's a 10% increase over last year at this time.
The CFA says part of the blame lies with state and local laws that are letting more and more OHVs onto public highways, as well as with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which has yet to finalize its all-terrain vehicle rulemaking.
“State and local decision makers need to stop expanding on road use of OHVs. Permitting OHVs on roads signals to consumers that it is safe to do so—which manufacturers, the CPSC, and health and safety advocates all agree that it is not a safe riding practice,” said Rachel Weintraub, CFA Legislative Director and General Counsel. “Since more than half of all fatalities each year take place on roads, CFA urges lawmakers not to open up roads for OHV use. Reversing this trend will have a huge safety impact.”
Three kinds
OHV’s consist of three main types of vehicles, covering everything from golf carts to dune buggies to utility carts:
- all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) which are off-road, motorized vehicles having three or four low-pressure tires, a straddle seat for the operator, and handlebars for steering control;
- recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) which are off-road vehicles that have four or more low pressure tires, bench or bucket seating, automotive type controls, rollover bars, occupant restraints, and a maximum speed over 30 mph; and
- utility task vehicles (UTVs) which have the same design elements as ROVs, but UTVs have maximum speeds of 30 mph or less.
CFA has a real-time data tracking system that lets it keep a careful eye on OHV fatalities. It consistently finds that the majority of OHV fatalities take place on roads, despite warnings from manufacturers and health and safety advocates that OHVs are not designed to be operated on road surfaces.
Safe riding practices
CFA offers these safety tips for OHV users:
1. Never operate an OHV on a road—Most OHV fatalities occur on roads and manufacturers and health and safety advocates agree that OHVs are not designed for road use.
2. Never permit children younger than 16 years old to operate an adult-size OHV or any OHV that is too large and too powerful for them—OHVs are powerful machines that can overwhelm a child’s ability to control them.
3. Always wear a helmet and other protective gear when riding an OHV—Safety gear is important but does not negate the danger of risky behaviors like riding on roads.
4. Never allow more people on an OHV than it was designed to carry—Adding passengers that the vehicle was not designed to carry can negatively impact handling and stability.
5. Never ride when under the influence—Not only is this an important safety behavior when operating any machinery, it may also be illegal to operate an OHV under the influence in your jurisdiction.
6. Take a hands-on safety course—OHVs are not automobiles and require specialized training to operate safely.