ATV Safety: A Pittsburgh Columnnist Tells Both Sides

Filed in archive ATV Safety on November 16, 2007

Many kids really love ATVs, but they can be deadly when not ridden properly.


Mike Seate, a Columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, wrote an article titled "A Dose of ATV Common Sense" that opens with a very short description of a new, young ATV rider going semi-pro. The story is one of the more balanced articles I've seen in a while, but it still lacks a little fact.

Mike describes increases in ATV related injuries at hospitals, but does not tell you that there are more ATVs in use now than last year or last decade. Be that as it may, he still hits home when he states that it is a lack of education that is causing the accidents, not the ATVs.

Riding ATVs is a great family recreational activity, but if each person riding has not had safety training (either professionally when you buy a new ATV, or by parents training their kdis), it can get ugly real fast. Take care to teach your kids about safety and responsibility, it will go a long way as they get older and become more active in the ATV and environmental communities.