Adolescent All-Terrain Vehicle

Exposure and Riding Behaviors

Charles Jennissen, MD Kristel Wetjen, RNGerene Denning, PhD Pamela HoogerwerfKarisa Harland, PhD Jeffrey Peck

833 ATV-related deaths in the U.S. in 2006.

Since 1982, children < 16 yrs have comprised just over a quarter of ATV crash fatalities.

Roughly 1/3 ATV-related injuries are children <16 years of age

Well-over ½ are under 24 years of age

US Consumer Product Safety Commission: 2010 Annual Report of ATV Deaths and Injuries.Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS)

Background

Background In fact, more children die from ATV-related

events than from bicycle crashes.

Helmkamp JC, Aitken ME, Lawrence BA. ATV and bicycle deaths and associated costs in the United States, 2000-2005. Public Health Rep. 2009;124(3):409-418.

Objective of Study

To determine ATV exposure, safety practices, and crash rates among

students taking part in a school-based ATV safety program

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no children under 16 drive an ATV.

University of Iowa Data 2002-2009

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Num

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Age (years)

Number of Crash Victims by Age

ATV Press Clippings in Nine Great Plains States 2009

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Victi

ms

Age

Number of Victims by Specific Age

3 per. Mov. Avg. (Number of Victims)

Methods

• Target age range of 12-15 years of age

• School based Curriculum

Methods

• A classroom response system was utilized to obtain:– Demographic information– Determine ATV exposure and safety behaviors

Results 18 schools in Eastern and Central Iowa participated

(3,185 students).

Males and females were equally represented.

74% were in our original target age range of 12-15 years old.

17%

53%

21%

10%

53%

Rurality was based on zip codes and the Rural Urban Commuting Codes (RUCA)

Both Rural And Urban Youth Were Represented In The Study.

38%

24%

39%

Results

Exposure for all groups rural and urban was over 80%.

Around 4 out of 10 reported riding frequently (daily/weekly).

85%YES

15%NO

39%Daily/

Weekly61%

Monthly/ Yearly

Results

ATV exposure was very similar for rural and urban youth

ATV use by youth is not just a rural public health issue.

41% 37%38%

59% 62% 63%

Results

Have you ever ridden or driven an ATV with more than one person on it?

91% YES

9% NO

Results

Passengers

Carrying passengers greatly increases the risk of a crash.

Multiple riders contributes to:• Multiple deaths in fatal ATV

crashes.

• Multiple injured in non-fatal ATV crashes.

Young ATV users and their parents may not know the danger of multiple riders and Iowa’s no passenger law.

Have you ever ridden or driven an ATV on a public road?

81% YES

19% NO

Results

Riding on Public Roads

62% of all U.S. ATV-related deaths from 1985-2009.

Approximately 1 out of 3 serious injuries in Iowa.

ATVs are not designed for road use.

Young ATV users and their parents may not know the danger of riding on the road and Iowa’s road use laws.

How often do you wear a helmet when riding an ATV?

12%

9%62%

18%

Results

Too many youth are not wearing helmets.

Many states do not have ATV helmet laws.

Young ATV users and their parents may not understand the risk of brain injury and the benefits of helmets.

Effective helmet laws require:

• User knowledge of the law

• Consistent enforcement

• Removing economic barriers

Helmet Use

Youth Are Engaging in Multiple Unsafe Behaviors.

Riding on an ATV with passengers.

Riding on public roads.

Never or almost never wearing a helmet.

54%34%

10%

2%

Have you ever been in an ATV crash (rolled over, hit something, fallen off)?

59% YES

41% NO

Crashes

Crashes Among These Youth Are Alarmingly High.

1-Year follow-up:

27% of students who had ridden an ATV the preceding year reported having had a crash.

High exposure, multiple unsafe behaviors, and lack of understanding likely contribute to high risk of crashes.

Crashes

Students from isolated rural communities were more likely to have ridden an ATV, but the likelihood of a crash was not different by rurality.

Increased crash likelihood was seen for males and for youth engaged in multiple risky behaviors.

Crashes

A very high percentage of youths in Iowa are exposed to ATVs.

They engage in unsafe behaviors and most have experienced a crash.

Significant efforts are needed to reduce ATV-related deaths and injuries in this high-risk pediatric population.

Conclusions

Questions?