Depending on where you live in the United States the awareness of ATV safety and ATV danger varies greatly. Perhaps such awareness (or lack thereof) contributes to the death rate that is absolutely alarming with these machines, however the more likely answer is that the public continues to be ill-advised about the safety of these machines.
The statistics speak for themselves. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission 340 fatalities on ATVs were reported in 2015, 547 in 2014 and 581 in 2013. See the report here.
However, reported versus actual deaths are two different statistics and it is well recognized that not every fatality is reported.
CPSC estimates that actual fatalities for 2014 are 674 and for 2013 is closer to 657; nearly two people a day – many of which are children.
The question looms, why isn’t their more public awareness of the dangers of ATVs?
Lawsuits are challenging against ATV manufacturers as the manufacturers argue there is “assumption of the risk”. But how can one assume a risk that they do not know exists? Manufacturers try to get around this argument by affixing small stickers on the ATV that warns of such dangers, which often persuades a jury of the same.
The estimates range that roughly 44% of fatalities are children ages 16 and younger.
Still, public awareness of such dangers trails far behind the actual statistics.
