ATV's Are Kid Killers - Is A Few Minutes Of Fun Worth Dying For And Depressing Your Friends and Family Forever?

• ATV's Have Killed 3000 American Children
• One Year Later - Grant Giving Foundation
• Stop Using Kids ATV's

Fearless 5th Grader Grant Among Giant 8th Graders

Editors Note: During this ATV season I remember Grant's ATV accident and death, I remember with joy, sadness, rage and regret my amazing fearless, forever 12 year old grandson Grant Patrick Tucker who was killed on November 21, 2020 as a result of an ATV rollover accident. As a parent and now a grandparent I have always been considered a worrywart, lecturing to my children and then my grandchildren "just how fragile life is".

Throughout Grant's 12 years I have talked with him about not making dumb dangerous decisions...but on that November Sunday he made a dumb and most dangerous decision that killed him.

So with this article I am trying to give parents and grandparents some extra resistance strength to help with the "No You Can't Ride The ATV" battle with your nagging pleading adventurous child, a NO that will keep them from injury or even death.

• 135,000 people are injured every year due to ATV accidents.
• Over 700 people are killed in these accidents every year, approximately 1/3 of the people killed in ATV accidents each year are under the age of 16.

Remember adults, your children's and grandchildren's lives are entrusted to you, you are responsible to keep your children safe...do the right thing for them, say NO!

To help strengthen your resolve, I have republished the below report from MotoSharK a website focusing on off road vehicles.

ATV Accidents and Injuries Statistics

By Josh Berry Editor of MotoSharK.

Obviously, there must be some underlying reasons as to why ATV accidents and injuries have become rampant as indicated in the following statistics:

• The annual total number of accidents and injuries resulting from ATV use went up from 10,000 cases in 1982 to a staggering 15,000 in the year 2017. This 50% increase could be attributed to a number of factors, key among them being widespread use of these four-wheelers.
• There has been an increase in the number of ATV-related fatalities yearly. For instance, there were 29 such incidents in 1982 alone but the number rose to 766 fatal injuries in 2007.
• Between 1982 and 2009 there were disturbing reports of 10,281 deaths resulting from ATV accidents and sadly that number could go even higher as more and more people use these four-wheelers.
• Statistics show that more than a quarter (or 25%) of the accidents and injuries that were caused by ATVs happened to young individuals who were aged below 16 years. This is a large percentage considering that these four-wheelers are a great choice for young people who are likely to engage in all kinds of off-road activities.
• Surprisingly, ATV accidents and injuries are common among white men aged between 18 and 30 years. Those victims who fall in this age bracket are actually the most active and adventurous in all societies.
• A whopping 80% of ATVs fatal injuries happen to those driving these vehicles rather than the passengers. Perhaps the drivers are at greater risk of getting injured because of trying to control the vehicles just before the accident occurs.
• Children account for about 27% of those injured by four-wheelers despite being 15% of the riders. This is due to the fact that children are less experienced or have little understanding of the ramifications arising from careless driving of ATVs.
• In the United States, 19 states have no laws requiring the riders of ATVs to wear helmets while 22 states still do not have the minimum age requirement for drivers. This statement explains better why there are numerous cases of injuries among young people especially in those states that have no laws to determine the right age of driving these quads.
• One research finding showed that the average age of most ATV drivers stands at 12.8 years old.
• In the year 2011, it was reported that there were more than 107,500 visits to emergency (EM) rooms by those who were involved in ATV accidents.
• The good news is that from 2007, statistics indicate that there has been a steady decline in the EM visits as well as accident rates resulting from using ATVs.
• It was found that 29,000 cases of the EM visits in 2011 were witnessed mainly from children aged below 16 years including 57 deaths resulting from ATV accidents.
• Most of the ATV injuries and accidents today take place on roads or highways. This is sad because these four wheelers are not designed to be driven on roadways although they have occasionally found their way there.
• In the US, 69% of the states allow four-wheelers on specific roads but under certain conditions.
• The year 2007 is remembered as the time when the risk estimate for accidents and injuries to occur while riding these four wheelers rose to a high of 153.9 for every 10,000 trips.
• Almost 75% of the total number of ATV accidents and injuries result in debilitating spinal cord and brain injuries. This is really scary considering that the brain and spinal cord are two delicate but very important organs in the body.
• Reports on the total number of four-wheelers injuries and accidents every year has almost tripled since 1992.
• Driving ATVs has been placed in the same category as diving and playing American Football in the sense that these sports are said to be among the main causes of accidents like the Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI) in young people aged below 17 years.
• Out of 2,865 ATV-related injuries in children as young as 16 years old and below, 43% were found to be younger than 12 years old.
• In a period of between 2001 and 2011, there was no linear trend detected in several ATV-related emergency departments treated fatal injuries.
• Out of the 107,500 estimated cases that were said to be ATV-related, the emergency department of treated injuries involving all ages in the year 2011 witnessed 87% of the victims being categorized as treated for injuries and then released to go home.
• According to statistics, 29% of ATV-related injuries occur mostly on the person’s arm. But the head and neck take another 28% of the victim’s injuries.

Conclusion

The statistics on quads are appalling and quite discouraging for those looking to venture in ATV riding.

However, this can be short-changed only if safety measures are put into practice every time riders are out there doing what they love most.

Thoughts Of Grant's Nashama*

Tearfully composed by Grandpa

Grant left us, our wonderful boy has gone,
but he left us his music.
Like musicians that pass
Grant left us music,
music just as sweet,
just as moving,
just as memorable.

He left us the sweet sounds of love of friendship,
he left us appreciation,
sharing, enthusiasm, giving, bravery
and smiles always smiles.

He is physically gone from us but
never his music

Grant left that for all of us,
to compose with forever.

*The soul, or Neshamah in Jewish thought, is the self, the "I" that inhabits the body and acts through it.. There are many words for the soul in Hebrew, but the most commonly used are nefesh and neshamah—both of which mean “breath.” In Genesis, the soul is described as G‑d ’s own breath animating us: “And G‑d breathed into his nostrils the breath of life."