There were an estimated 4,541 ATV-related deaths in the United States between 1982 and Dec. 31, 2001. In 2001, a third of all injuries were to riders or passengers under 16 years old.
From 1997 to 2001, the estimated number of ATV-related injuries treated at a hospital emergency room in the United States rose from 54,700 to 111,700, a 104 percent increase.
During this period, the number of drivers rose from 12 million to 16.3 million (36 percent increase)
The estimated total number of driving hours rose from 1,575 million to 2,364 million (50 percent increase)
The estimated number of ATVs rose from 4 million to 5.6 million (40 percent increase). There are an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 ATVs in Pennsylvania.
Only 7 percent of ATV drivers in 2001 learned to operate an ATV through a dealer, from a salesman or through an organized training program. Forty-four percent of ATVs in 2001 were purchased used, most from former owners rather than from a dealer.
Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; Pennsylvania Off Highway Vehicle Association
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