Pro tips for preventing ATV accidents

ATVs are used on the farm for many reasons, from doing chores to riding for fun. As part of National Farm Safety and Health Week, AgriSafe held an ATV safety webinar this week featuring expert Curt Porterfield, health and safety training coordinator at Virginia Tech.
An average of 500 people die and another 100,000 are seriously injured each year while operating an ATV, and 60% of all ATV fatalities occur in agriculture, according to Porterfield. Children riding on ATVs account for 11,000 emergency room visits each year.
Laws regarding ATV use vary from state to state, including size limits for young people and helmet use. "You're increasing the opportunity for children to be hurt using those bigger machines," Porterfield says, and almost all farm ATVs are the larger models.
He offers these key points for ATV safety:
Recognize the fact ATVs can be deadly, the common hazards associated with their use, and your own skill levels.
Evaluate your equipment, terrain, environment, and load.
Control and maintain your ATV properly, control your safety by wearing PPE, and control your ride by driving safely.
Serious injuries and fatalities often have these elements in common, he says:
Speeding
Driving on a paved road
Not wearing a helmet
Operating while overloaded or with an unbalanced load
Carrying passengers on single-rider ATVs
"We can't stress enough, single rider, single operator," Porterfield says.
Rollovers are the most common type of ATV accident, with nearly 60% of fatalities occurring in this type of accident. and some manufacturers are now making rollover-protection systems for ATVs.
Porterfield also offers these tips to keep yourself upright:
Watch your speed
Pay attention to how you're driving on slopes and inclines
Know your terrain
Make sure loads are stable, balanced, and secured
Stay within the weight limits for your ATV
Use only manufacturer-approved accessories
Some utility vehicles and recreational off-road vehicles feature bench or bucket seats with seatbelts and roll-over protective systems, which makes them a bit safer. While these were traditionally used for recreation, Porterfield says, they're becoming more popular on the farm because of their beds that can haul small bales of hay, buckets of feed, or tools.

To learn more, watch Porterfield's free webinar from AgriSafe and explore other National Farm Safety and Health Week resources.