More Texans have died in ATV-related accidents in the last three decades than in any other state.
The 753 people killed in Texas in ATV-related accidents since 1982 are a sobering reminder of the importance of ATV safety while afield this hunting season. Many of the fatalities involve children, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Nationally, 23 percent of ATV-related fatalities were younger than 16 years of age, and 10 percent were younger than 12 years of age.
“The one thing I tell everyone is that if you love your kids and grandkids, don’t let them operate ATVs unsupervised,” said Warren Bluntzer of Lometa in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. Bluntzer is a private wildlife biologist and owner of Wildlife Consulting Services who works with landowners across the state. “I just want to encourage our hunters to be smart when they have kids and to remember that kids do not know their limitations sometimes. And turning them loose on an ATV to run 45 miles per hour unsupervised is not good business.”
The CPSC advises to follow and share these rules of the trail to make safety a part of the plan for every ride and help reduce ATV-related deaths and injuries where you live:
- Do not drive ATVs on paved roads.
- Do not allow a child under 16 to drive or ride an adult ATV.
- Do not drive ATVs with a passenger or ride as a passenger.
- Always wear a helmet and other protective gear such as eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
- Take a hands-on safety training course.
For more information on ATV safety, visit http://bit.ly/2e31ngW.