ATV Accident More Likely to Kill than Motorcycle Crash: Study

U.S. health experts say that individuals are more likely to die as a result of injuries sustained in an ATV accident than they as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. 

The findings were announced at an annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons this month. Researchers found that victims of an ATV accident were 50 percent more likely to die than victims of a motorcycle accident, even when the severity of the injuries appeared to be the same.

Taking data from the national trauma bank on nearly 60,000 ATV and motorcycle accidents, the researchers found ATV riders faced an increased chance of death and were more likely to be placed on ventilators and in intensive care units than motorcycle riders. The findings remained consistent even when both ATV and motorcycle riders were wearing helmets.

Although the study did not address the cause, researchers speculated that the weight of ATVs could play a factor in the severity and lethality of crash injuries. While the four wheels of an ATV provide greater stability than a motorcycle, having the heavier vehicle flip over on top of you could result in greater trauma.

U.S. transportation experts say that there are 800 to 900 deaths each year related to ATV accidents.

The new findings come as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is in the process of developing new standards for all ATVs and other off-highway vehicles. CPSC officials called for more stringent standards as popularity of the vehicles, such as the Yamaha Rhino, began to climb, and ATV-related deaths continue to rise right along with the sales numbers.

Regulators have targeted stability problems that lead to rollovers, steering issues and safety features as areas new regulations are most likely to target.