Toddler Dies in Kentucky ATV Wreck

A two-year-old girl was killed Sunday due to injuries suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident in Letcher, according to news reports.

Details on the crash are unavailable, but the tragedy is only one of hundreds of thousands of ATV accidents that have occurred in the United States over the past 30 years. Statistics show that more than 500 of those deaths occurred in Kentucky over the same time period, and the number of accidents continues to climb.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website, ATVsafety.gov, offers the following safety tips for people using ATVs for recreational purposes:

• Take a safety course: Just like a car driver must take a driver’s education class to learn how to operate a vehicle safely, an ATV safety course can teach operators safety maneuvers in a hands-on environment.
  
• Wear a helmet:  Helmets are mandatory in Kentucky for all riders over the age of 16, unless the ATV is being used for business reasons.  Children must be helmeted at all times. Additional protective gear such as clothing and goggles can protect riders from serious road rash and abrasions in the event of an accident.
• Don’t ride with a passenger or as a passenger: Most ATVs are designed for a single rider. If a passenger shifts his or her position while riding, the balance of the ATV may be upset and make accidents more likely.
  
• Don’t ride ATVs on paved roads: ATVs are really designed for off-road riding, so it important to use them for their intended purpose. Failure to do so could make a difference if you end up filing a products liability lawsuit against the company or manufacturer of the vehicle.
  
• Do not permit children to ride or operate adult-only ATVs: In Kentucky, no one under 12 may drive an ATV over 70 cc in engine size. Those over 16 are prohibited from operating an ATV over 90 cc.
  
• Do not ride ATVs if you’ve been drinking or using drugs: This tip is common sense. Inebriation can affect a driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely and reduces reaction time in an emergency.