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SALT LAKE CITY — Even with manufacturer warnings, free safety classes and strictly enforced helmet laws, an average of 1,800 people are treated in Utah hospitals every year for off-highway vehicle related injuries.
More than a third of those accidents happen to children under the age of 19, and the cost of treating the injuries exceeded $11 million in hospitalization and emergency department charges in 2009, according to the Utah Department of Health.
"OHVs are not toys," said Utah State Parks and Recreation's OHV program manager Chris Haller. "When handled improperly or beyond the driving abilities of the operator or manufacturer specifications, they can be deadly."
In the last month, two Utahns died while four-wheeling in separate areas of the western desert. Both involved head injuries sustained when the machines rolled.
Statistics show that an average of 14 Utahns die in OHV and snowmobile crashes each year. That is in addition to the nearly 1,800 who are injured each year while riding all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles and snowmobiles.
In the last month, two Utahns died while four-wheeling in separate areas of the western desert. Both involved head injuries sustained when the machines rolled, however, one man, 57-year-old Frank Watcher, of West Valley, had been wearing a helmet at the time of his accident.
Ten-year-old Jackson Hitz, of Eagle Mountain, died after the ATV he was riding rolled from a steep embankment into a ravine 22 feet below, according to police. It is unknown whether he was wearing a helmet or if the machine malfunctioned to cause it to roll backward. Hitz was a passenger on the ATV, with a caretaker, who was seriously injured.
OHV operators age 8 to 15 are required by law to take a safety education class approved by the state's parks and recreation division, and it is illegal for any child under age 8 to drive an OHV on public land. Drivers 16 years of age and older must have a valid driver's license to operate an OHV, according to state law.
Haller said more than 45,000 Utahns have taken the OHV safety courses, which focus on safety, handling, maintenance and riding etiquette.
"They are an invaluable teaching tool for young drivers and their parents," he said.
Despite the helmet law — which requires protection for any operator or passenger under 18 — UDOH Violence and Injury Prevention Program spokeswoman Jenny Johnson said, "we see people riding OHV's without helmets too often."
"Helmets do save lives and are a must for riders of any age," she said.
In addition to helmets, officials recommend that riders wear protective safety gear, including goggles or a face shield and clothing that covers the whole body. Machines should also be the right size for the riders, as they should be able to reach all the controls. And passengers should only be carried if the OHV is specifically designed for it, according to manufacturer recommendations.
More information can be found online, at www.stateparks.utah.gov/ohv.
Email:wleonard@ksl.com
