JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida is among the top 10 places with the most number of people to die on an ATV or similar off-highway vehicle, according to a report released Thursday by the Consumer Producer Safety Commission (CPSC).
Florida is 5th on that list, with 104 people who have died in two years on an ATV-style vehicle.
Based on numbers from CPSC:
- 49% of the deaths involved children under the age of 12
- 30% of the deaths were riders who were 55 years and older
Just as alarming, the number of people to die has jumped a whopping 33% in just a year, based on the most recent data.
READ | Full CPSC report urging consumers to be safe on off-highway vehicles
ATVs were involved in more than two thirds of all these deaths, and another 500,000 people were hurt on these kinds of off-highway vehicles so badly, they had to go to the emergency room. The injuries were mostly to their head or arms.
The Commission also listed a few suggestions to reduce the risk of children getting hurt:
- If you’re going to use an ATV get hands-on training from a qualified instructor.
- Never ride with more passengers than there are seats. Most ATVs are designed for one rider.
- Stay off roads, specifically off paved roads. Never ride on public roads, except to cross where permitted by law.
- No drinking, before or while driving an ATV.
- Think about age limits. Riders younger than 16 should drive only age-appropriate models, not adult models.
- Don’t forget the safety gear. Always wear a helmet and other protective gear, like eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
RELATED | Doctors see ‘dramatic increase’ in children with ATV injuries
For perspective, California, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky had more deaths involving ATV-style vehicles between 2018 and 2020, when this data was most recently analyzed.
In Georgia, 95 people died in that same two-year period.