ATVIEW

The statistics listed below pertain to ATV accidents occuring in West Virginia between 2000 and 2004. The data was compiled by
Dr. James Hemlkamp and his team at the West Virginia University Injury Control Research Center.

From 2000 through 2004, 140 persons died related to ATV accidents in West Virginia. By mid 2005, nine others had been killed.
Of the 140 persons killed during the five-year period, 16% were children under the age of 15.
The vast majority of deaths were directly related to head trauma, and only 6% of victims had been wearing a helmet.
Alcohol and drug use was identified in 14% of fatalities.
12% of the 140 victims had actually been passengers on the ATV, and of these 3/4 were females.
Males greatly outnumber females in proportion of those killed while riding ATVs.
Fatalities occured on public paved roads in 50% of deaths involving children and 37% of those involving adults.
Deaths were reported in 48 of 55 counties in West Virginia, the majority of which are located in the southwestern part of the state.
Between 2000 and 2003, the fatality rate among West Virginia children was 7 times higher than the national average.
Helmet and rider certification regulations were not mandated in West Virginia until 2004.

Special thanks to James Helmkamp, Ph. D. and his team at the WVU Injury Control Research Center for this original research data.

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