(Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2018/CPSC-Urges-Riders-to-Keep-All-Terrain-Vehicles-Off-Roads-in-New-Public-Service-Announcement).
With Memorial Day weekend behind us, the ATV riding season has begun. The U.S. Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just launched a new public service announcement concerning the safe use of ATVs. The CPSC is urging riders to keep all ATVs off of paved public roads. According to the CPSC, every year there are approximately 100,00 injuries involving ATVs and, tragically, approximately 650 people die each year in ATV accidents. In the recent public service announcement, Ann Marie Buerkle, the Acting Chairman of the CPSC, advised the public that ATVs should never be operated on paved surfaces because they are not designed to do so and because of the risk of collisions with motor vehicles traveling on paved roads. Ms. Buerkle further advised that because of the risks associated with crashes, even if your county, city, or town or borough permits ATVs to be driven on a paved road, the CPSC is urging all operators of ATVs not to do so. There is a very good reason for the position taken by the CPSC. On paved roads, ATVs are simply at a greater risk of crashing into another vehicle such as a car, truck or bus.
With the dangers of riding ATVs on paved streets and highways in mind, the CPSC offers the following safety tips for riders of off-road vehicles:
- Never get on an ATV or another all-terrain vehicle without wearing a helmet along with other protective gear like eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, and boots.
- Most ATVs are meant to be operated by one person, and an ATV should never hold more passengers than the number of seats available.
- Before operating an ATV, you should attend a training class or classes with an instructor who is qualified to teach the safe operation of ATVs.
- Riders who are under the age of 16 should never ride an adult model ATV and should only ride youth model ATVs which are appropriate for their age.
The auto and truck accident injury attorneys at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., are concerned for the safety of all automobile drivers and passengers throughout Pennsylvania and serve motor vehicle accident victims and their families in Reading, Pottsville, and many other areas of Berks County and Schuylkill County. The lawyers at the firm handle cases in courts throughout Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia. To schedule a consultation, please give us a call or fill out a contact form on our website.
From the desk of Adam K. Levin, Esquire.