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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > July > 14 > Entry
Editorial: Ban on youth ATV riders would save lives
The death of 2-year-old Levi Jones in Warren County on July 7 is a tragic reminder of the danger faced by kids who ride all-terrain vehicles and the need for Ohio to strengthen its vehicle laws.
In this case, Levi was riding with his father when the ATV crashed, throwing them both off. This type of incident is common in Ohio, and ATV injuries spike in the summer. The off-road vehicles are especially common in rural areas and are used both for practical purposes and for recreation.
But the notion that ATVs fall short of being true motor vehicles, or can be treated as something of a toy because they are fun to ride, is dangerous. ATVs can weigh hundreds of pounds and maneuvering them requires sense and skills that children often don’t have.
They are flat unsafe for those under age 16 who have not been taught to use them with the sort of supervision teenagers get when they’re learning to drive cars. And riding along on a vehicle never intended for more than one person should never be allowed. Most Ohioans understand this common sense and would support new laws that would cut injuries and deaths.
Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, said Ohio is in the top third among states for ATV fatalities. While kids under 16 represent less than 15 percent of ATV users, they account for a third of ATV deaths.
“These are dangerous machines,” he said. “Children oftentimes are too young to respond to the moment-to-moment demands of operating them. They don’t know where to draw the line and that a fall isn’t a little tumble. It’s a crash involving a tremendous amount of energy.”
Ohio law is quite liberal, restricting use to those over 16 on public lands, but setting no age limits for vehicles driven on private property.
In 2006, the research center at Columbus’ children’s hospital surveyed Ohioans about potential legal restrictions. Respondents supported by wide margins proposals to prohibit ATV use by young children, ban passengers, require helmets and mandate safety classes. A state law with those elements is a good idea.
Many ATV users oppose those rules, complaining they’re oppressive. They argue that accidents happen, but that most users are responsible and the vehicles generally are safely used, especially in farming.
That certainly is true. But ATV enthusiasts cannot ignore the tragedy of the unusually high number of deaths — especially children — in the state. (A recent study showed 85 Ohioans died in ATV crashes between 2003 and 2006.)
With or without a law, Ohioans need to understand that they are playing a dangerous game by allowing kids to ride ATVs. Few would allow their children to get behind the wheel of a car without a driver’s education course or basic safety precautions (such as a clicked seat belt).
Taking a safety class or putting on a helmet before climbing aboard an ATV may be a short-term inconvenience, but it’s a price worth paying to save lives.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Law Enforcement and Public Safety
Comments
By Mike
July 14, 2009 2:07 AM | Link to this
Ohioans don’t make the decision to let the kids ride ATVs, their parents do. Let’s see, little Levi was riding on an ATV of which HE HAD NO OPERATIONAL CONTROL. How was he unable to meet the demands of operation if he wasn’t in control? Maybe the person to blame would be his dad. Not Ohioans.By M
July 14, 2009 6:23 AM | Link to this
One more example of government thinking they need to be the parent. There is no reason whats so ever, no rationale whats so ever for the government to assume the role of parent and benevolent overseer for our lives. I as a parent am perfectly willing to assume responsibility for my actions and dont need the “good intention” of the editorial author involved at allBy JJ
July 14, 2009 7:15 AM | Link to this
Ban everything thats’ a danger…swimming, cycling-going outside at all.By Harvey
July 14, 2009 7:47 AM | Link to this
Ridiculous. What I do with an ATV on my own, private property, is none of your business. We have enough stupid “nanny state” laws already!By Norm Kern
July 14, 2009 9:01 AM | Link to this
The editorial misses the point by wasting a lot of words on kids operating ATVs. ATVs are clearly designated as single passenger vehicles, just like riding lawn mowers. ATV riders should always wear a helmet and not ride on pavement. I frequently encounter ATVs on paved roads in rural areas- running 40-50 mph with two helmetless kids on them. The statistics tell the rest of the story.By ManBearPig
July 14, 2009 9:09 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah we need more and more nanny state control. People need to realize that accidents happen every day. People die from them every day. Stop trying to control every aspect of someone else’s life and worry about your own! If a parent wants to take his kid on an ATV then so be it, I personally don’t care! Tell me how many deaths per number of riders occur, I a sure it will be an extremely low number.By Scott
July 14, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, we can’t legislate against being stupid. An attempt by law to save children from their own stupid parents’ decisions will never fly. The stupid parents won’t heed those laws, because they don’t want to be told what to do, even if it is common sense. Next thing you know, little Johnny/Janie is hurt. It’s the stupid parents’ fault, but who suffers?By Roscoe2u
July 14, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
Lets see 85 deaths in 3 years. We have that many deaths in car accidents in 3 months not 3 years. Shall we ban cars also?????? I love it when people write CLUELESS articles like this one…..By Devils Advocate
July 14, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
Irons have labels on them that state not to iron your clothes while you’re wearing them. Darwinian theory is in full force…as it should be. I packed my parachute full of fruit and jumped, so I sued the naufacturer for not labeling the pack that fruit is not recommended as a counter to “mean ol’ Mr.Gravity”. Half of you can’t read, critical thought processes have been iliminated in your lives, and your one tooth smile tells me why they call it a “tooth brush”, instead of a “teeth brush”. Yea, you need warning labels. No, you need to adhere to Darwinian Theory: “Survival of the fittest”. It has be subjegated to “survival of the dumbest”. Too bad. The gene pool needs alot of chlorine. Here’s your sign!!By Tom
July 14, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this
Don’t get out much, do you Devils Ad.??By ironmyke
July 14, 2009 6:11 PM | Link to this
That it would. However I would expect the folks who own those death traps also think they are smart enough to protect the lives of their children and that no one else ought to have a say in the matter.By RAW
July 15, 2009 12:15 AM | Link to this
I can tell that those of you posting here are not farmers. ATV’s are way of life for many farmers and their children. For most of us, we get into cars in the morning and enter the rush hour commute. Not one of us would deny that that activity is less than safe and borders on wreckless at times. To top it off many of us throw our kids in the car and take them to daycare during that same daycare. For the farmer, the ATV is often times their commuting vehicle, and like the rest of us with kids, they sometimes have to take them along. It so happens this ended in the tragic death of this little boy. I know his father was a competent rider that had nothing but the safety of his child in mind while riding. They were not riding wrecklessly. They were merely coming home from checking crops and livestock. I am appalled at the viscousness of these comments and outright false assumptions regarding this tragedy. The author claimed that no parent would allow their children to operate a car with out instruction. I submit that is correct, but I ask why does that instruction have to come from a class. If the parent is a competent and safe rider, then the child being taught by the parent will likely be a competent and safe driver. But, the author has skewed the facts of this case to advance their own political agenda. The child in question was not in comtrol of the ATV. His father was in control and driving in a manner and speed none would consider to be unsafe. This was truly an accident. To the author, the last thing any of us need is to reliquish even more control over our own lives to the government. Perhaps you enjoyed the Orwell novel “1984” because that is what you are suggesting. We the people of this state and this country could all stand a dose of true individual liberty wothout continued legislation from the government further inhibiting our freedoms and abilities to make our own decisions and decide our own destiny. I would suggest that you ask the Native Americans just how well off they are today for the benevolent control of their “White Father”. Please, I beg you to understand for what you are asking. I for one fell that I am much more qualified than some legislator to decide what is best for me.By Jack
July 15, 2009 4:05 AM | Link to this
Thanks RAW for that. You said so much better than I could have. To me this was just a tragic accident. We do not need anymore “nanny laws” to protect us from ourselves.By aharddaysnight
July 16, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this
Well said RAW.By aharddaysnight
July 16, 2009 9:06 AM | Link to this
Well said RAW.By Mary
July 18, 2009 10:05 PM | Link to this
I would likely recommend the ATV program through 4-H. It is a great resource.