New Research Demonstrates Fatal Consequences of OHV County Ordinances Allowing On Road Use

New research published in the journal Injury Epidemiology demonstrates the fatal consequences of county ordinances allowing on road use of off-highway vehicles (OHV). OHVs are not designed for on road use, and even the group representing ATV manufacturers and distributors unequivocally opposes the use of ATVs on roads. Most OHV deaths occur during on road use. Yet local legislative bodies continue to allow on road OHV use, putting OHV riders and passengers at serious risk for injury and death. As an example, CFA tracked at least 498 OHV fatalities in 2023. 19% of the deaths were children 15 year and younger, with the youngest children as young as three years old. A staggering 67% of the OHV deaths were during on road use.

The latest research analyzed an Iowa OHV roadway ordinance database and an Iowa OHV crash database (2002-2018). Specifically, Iowa provided individual counties with discretion to address OHVs on public roadways in 2004. 45 county OHV ordinance went into effect between 2011 and 2018. The research demonstrates that OHV crashes increased significantly after counties implemented ordinances allowing OHV use on public road.

Roadway crashes are more likely to involve multiple fatalities, collisions, and head injuries. Victims in roadway crashes are less likely to be wearing protective gear such as helmets and were more likely to be carrying passengers, both things that are risk factors for OHV-related fatalities and injuries. Further, OHVs are not designed for safe roadway use because of their relatively narrow track and high center of gravity, as well as tires with low-pressure and deep tread. These design features allow for high ground clearance for rough terrain, but act unpredictably on roadways surfaces, especially with increasing speed. OHVs are at a high risk for rollovers, and operators can easily lose control.

Sadly, year after year, children continue to make up an alarming percentage of OHV fatalities. Dr. Charles Jennissen, who is a co-author on the latest research and clinical professor at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, previously told CFA "More kids in the US under 16 die from ATVs than bicycle crashes." Dr. Jennissen has further noted that "We talk a lot about bicycle safety for kids, but this is a bigger killer, and we need to protect our children."

CFA and its safety allies urge policymakers to consider carefully any plans to allow OHV to drive legally on local streets, keeping in mind the serious risk on road use poses. Policymakers must also consider how OHV fatality data demonstrates a disproportionate impact on child safety.

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