ATV Helmet Laws
As all-terrain vehicles rise in popularity, so, too, does the number of ATV-related injuries and deaths. Many experts agree that riding an ATV is a dangerous sport, and laws have been put in place to protect ATV riders. But, as with any other sport, participants must wear proper protective gear---wearing a helmet could mean life or death.
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What Does a Helmet Do?
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A helmet is an ATV rider's single-most important tool, protecting the rider's brain from severe trauma. Helmets accomplish their goal by spreading the force of an impact across its rigid exterior shell. If the initial shock is too severe, the helmet will crack in an attempt to absorb as much of the impact as possible. The remaining kinetic energy is absorbed by the helmet's liner, which is usually composed of shock-absorbing polystyrene foam. Studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that a helmet can be effective in preventing serious brain damage by up to 69 percent.
The Need for ATV Helmet Laws
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As injuries and fatalities have risen, the NHTSA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have conducted studies to determine the cause of these accidents. The results of these studies show that, like motorcyclists, the primary injury and/or cause of death in an all-terrain vehicle related accident is from head trauma. Furthermore, as the number of children injured or killed when riding an ATV continues to rise, the need for mandated protective equipment and proper rider education rises as well.
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State ATV Helmet Laws
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As there is not a federal law requiring the use of helmets for ATV riders, state governments must effect helmet laws within their jurisdictions, mainly placing the required use of helmets on young riders below the age of 18. States with helmet laws require that riders and their passengers wear helmets approved by the federal Dept. of Transportation and eye protection at all times. Currently, 32 states have some sort of helmet law, with Iowa only requiring the use of a helmet when riding on government-funded trails and parks. As of this time, the remaining 18 states that do not have any type of ATV helmet law in place include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont and Washington.
Children and ATV Helmets
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Although many youth ATV models are equipped with speed-restricting governors and tend to be smaller by design, many children lack the skills and experience needed to handle many of the situations encountered when riding. Accidents, often caused by a child riding beyond their skills, can happen all too easily. Sadly, these accidents often end tragically, with children under the age of 16 accounting for nearly 20 percent of all ATV-related fatalities. Adult supervision can provide the safest environment possible, but a proper helmet must be worn to prevent a minor accident from becoming a nightmare.
Another Perspective
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A study by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center examined ATV-related injuries within the state of Ohio over a six-year period between 1995 and 2001. Its study focused primarily on injuries that involved children, revealing that the injury severity score, an anatomical scoring system used to provide an overall score for patients with multiple injuries, of a helmeted and un-helmeted child had little significant difference. The study concluded that helmets do not provide any significant source of protection for children riding ATVs.
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- Photo Credit Howie Le
