Recent deaths highlight ongoing ATV safety problems

National and state statistics show he almost certainly will not be the last.

Also injured in the crash was Marland’s 17-year-old sister, Kathlene, who was riding on the ATV as a passenger. The lower portion of her leg was amputated and she remains hospitalized at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.

On New Year’s Day, Charlotte Annette Bell Buss, a 29-year-old mother of three, died in McMinnville after the four-wheeler she was riding up a hill flipped backward and landed on her.

The only law regarding ATVs prohibits their use on public roads. Manufacturers guidelines give operators safety precautions, which are recommendations not enforced by laws.

The vehicles have no age requirement for operation. The smallest ones can be used by children as young as age 6, according to manufacturers guidelines. Some models are recommended for drivers older than 12, and some older than 16.

Dorothy Lyles, who lives in the neighborhood where the Marland accident occurred, said she is worried for the safety of children who ride ATVs.

“It has bothered me — it’s just dangerous for them,” she told The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper.

Eight ATV-related deaths were reported in 2002, down from 15 in 2000, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety. Injuries related to ATVs remained at about 130 reported cases across the state each year.

Few ATV accidents have been reported on public roads in Montgomery County, though the vehicles have been seen frequently on the asphalt.

“We’ve gotten a lot of complaints about driving recklessly and riding on paved roads,” Montgomery Sheriff’s Deputy James Derico said.

The law requires people under age 16 to wear helmets, Derico said. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of fatal head injury by 42 percent, according to the National Children’s Center Web site.

Across the nation, a record-breaking 634 deaths from riding ATVs were recorded in 2001, the U.S. Product Safety Commission reported. From 1982 to 2001, 4,541 people died nationwide because of ATV wrecks.

ATV manufacturers and dealers say the four-wheelers are safe when operated according to guidelines.

All-terrain vehicles are motorized vehicles with large, low-pressure tires and are designed for off-road use. Different models weigh from 100 to 600 pounds and can reach speeds of 75 mph.

Warning labels decorate each four-wheeler at the Mid-South Motoplex dealership in Clarksville. Age restrictions, warnings not to carry passengers or ride on roads are marked clearly, but it’s up to the consumer to follow the suggestions.

Most ATVs purchased at Mid-South Motoplex are used for utility use, including farming and hunting, said dealership owner Ed Krass.

“One of the reasons we have so much success is because we ensure potential buyers are aware of safety recommendations,” he said.

Krass said helmets and goggles are the store’s best-selling accessories, and each buyer receives a safety video with any ATV purchase. An instructional course is also free with the purchase.

One person who refuses to ride an ATV again is Amber Thomas, a Northeast High School classmate of the Marlands. The 15-year-old freshman, who recently got her learner’s permit, said she and her friends are much more cautious when they practice driving with their parents.

James Carpenter has noticed neighborhood kids driving just about anything with wheels recklessly.

“It seems like they think it’s cars jobs to watch out for them,” he said.

Most calls to police stem from complaints of motor scooters and dirt bikes in residential areas, said Clarksville officer Mike Caver.

“It’s a rare thing that we’ve been called out on ATV collisions with other motor vehicles,” said officer Andy Bechtold of the police department’s Fatal Accident Crash Team.

Authorities offer these tips for ATV riders:

— Travel at a speed appropriate for the terrain, visibility conditions and rider’s experience level.

— Do not operate an ATV on a public road.

— Do not carry a passenger.

— Wear a motorcycle helmet, eye protection, boots, gloves, long sleeves and pants.

— Maintain a safe distance between riders.

— Do not consume alcohol before or during ATV operation.
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On the Net:
Tennessee Department of Safety: http://www.state.tn.us/safety

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