41 ATV fatalties in WV to date 2007

[riptides]

RayH

What went wrong?

We lost respect for each other and the ability to speak open and honestly without offending?

-Mike Z.

 

[the_sandman_454]

The phrase "You can't fix stupid" comes to mind. Stupid on the part of the parents buying the kids machines and not supervising them in proper operation, stupid on the part of the parents for not buying or requiring safety gear, and stupid on the part of the kids for not using common sense or safety gear.

You can't fix that. There will always be a certain group that is too good to be safe. That helmet won't look as cool as no helmet at all. Personally on my property at low speeds when I'm just checking things out I don't wear a helmet. If I plan to ride much faster than a walk or anywhere near the roads, that automatically means I'm wearing a helmet. Here we have idiots riding the roads all the time without even a helmet. You can't legislate it out because technically a quad on the roads here is already illegal.

I would hate to see the ATV industry ruined by this stuff, but come on. Mine has been perfectly safe, because of the operator. The ATV industry doesn't need to add a ton of safety features, people who use them simply need to engage the safety device that exists between their ears (or should).

 

[mjfox6]

Last year ( 2006) WV had about 51 ATV fatalities in the state and West Virginia has 41 for the year 2007 with 11 fatalties in September in 2007.
I do not have a 4 wheeler,I prefer riding an enduro motorcycle that is what I grew up on I never owned a 4 wheeler but I can see where they would be handy and fun to own.
I wonder how the other states compare in statistics ?

Hur Herald

Two things I read every day...TBN and the Hur Herald!

Makes a Calhoun boy proud to run across that link.

Now, when is someone going to bring up Jesco White?

 

[WVaHillbilly]

Two things I read every day...TBN and the Hur Herald!

Makes a Calhoun boy proud to run across that link.

Now, when is someone going to bring up Jesco White?

Calhoun county . Grantsville ....LOL nice country up there I am a Wood County native/resident.

Poor old Jessico...Its sad to say he was so exploited.

 

[ktm250rider]

Well said sandman. I used to follow the same philosophy. I would take my bike out into the woods to add on to my trails Im building. Typically it was with some sort of saw on my body so ripping through the trails was out of the question so no gear was needed. The last time I did that I hit a stick just right. It must have been sprung because it whacked me square in the chest and just about took me off my bike at just about walking speed. I layed there for about 10 minutes in pain.
Now its boots, chest protector, helmet and eye protection any time I enter the woods.

 

[RayH]

Funny thing is, I rode for years with no helmet. None of us wore helmets. I didnt even own one until I had a drivers license and started riding on the street. I got plenty of scrapes and bruises, even bumped my head on the dirt a couple times (although, that could explain alot).
Im not sure what to make of the whole "armor your child" approach. I think, to some extent, all the armor and padding and so forth adds a false sense of indestructability that may be counter productive.
On paper, all the armor seems like a great idea, but when you factor in the human mind, maybe it loses some effectiveness.
Of course, I also think that full coverage insurance is the reason why teens drive like idiots, so Im a little wacky anyways.

 

[RobJ]

I think, to some extent, all the armor and padding and so forth adds a false sense of indestructability that may be counter productive.
On paper, all the armor seems like a great idea, but when you factor in the human mind, maybe it loses some effectiveness.

I don't think folks drive faster because they have airbags in their cars or wear a seatbelt. I know I don't. They are there just in case.

Of course, I also think that full coverage insurance is the reason why teens drive like idiots, so Im a little wacky anyways.

And you really believe this Ray or just kidding? Most kids, but by no means all, mine included in the most count, drive used cars and he only carries the state mandated liability coverage. If someone puts full coverage on a 97 v6 mustang that they paid $2000 for then, well some folks have more money than......

I think teens (some anyways) are poor drivers because of the same reason a 9yo can get killed on an ATV, snowmobile, or jetski. Inexpierence and not using good judgement. Both go sort of hand in hand but many adults don't always use good judgement. IE like letting a 9yo run around on a full size ATV!!

That's like saying cops will start a gun fight just bacause they are wearing a vest.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm going off memory here, so I'm not 100% accurate, but close enough to demonstrate a point.

One of the big insurance companies did a study on teenage drivers a few years ago. The study found that when a teenager was driving alone, he/she only had around a 10% chance of having an accident. When there were two teenagers in the vehicle, the odds more then doubled to something like 30%. When there were three teenagers, it was well over 50%, and four teenagers in a car together raised it to something like 70 or 80%.

It was pretty obvious that they get distracted and have dificulty focusing on what they are doing. I see this with our kids all the time. It's also why I feel they get into allot of the accidents that they have of ATV's. They forget what they are doing all the time. I've pesonally seen my kids do this on bicycles to the point they have run of the road, hit trees and rode into drainage ditches.

And yes, it's mutch more likely to happen when it's the two of them playing, compared to just one of them.

Eddie

 

[RobJ]

I'm going off memory here, so I'm not 100% accurate, but close enough to demonstrate a point.

One of the big insurance companies did a study on teenage drivers a few years ago. The study found that when a teenager was driving alone, he/she only had around a 10% chance of having an accident. When there were two teenagers in the vehicle, the odds more then doubled to something like 30%. When there were three teenagers, it was well over 50%, and four teenagers in a car together raised it to something like 70 or 80%.

It was pretty obvious that they get distracted and have dificulty focusing on what they are doing. I see this with our kids all the time. It's also why I feel they get into allot of the accidents that they have of ATV's. They forget what they are doing all the time. I've pesonally seen my kids do this on bicycles to the point they have run of the road, hit trees and rode into drainage ditches.

And yes, it's mutch more likely to happen when it's the two of them playing, compared to just one of them.

Eddie

Add to that mix Eddie, Cell phones. And of course Cell phones lead to text messaging while driving. And of course ipods (now in cell phones). I think it is illegal in Teaxs to have both ears plugged up with a listening device. One ear ok but who is inforcing this.

 

[WVaHillbilly]

Add to that mix Eddie, Cell phones. And of course Cell phones lead to text messaging while driving. And of course ipods (now in cell phones). I think it is illegal in Teaxs to have both ears plugged up with a listening device. One ear ok but who is inforcing this.

Don't forget the idiots that read a newspaper or book while driving etc...I have seen men shaving with an electric razor and women putting on make up while driving.