Pennsylvania is Number One for ATV Deaths

November 2007

Pennsylvania holds a lot of distinctions, but being number one in the United States for ATV-related deaths is certainly nothing to be proud of. The Keystone State has seen nearly 400 deaths due to ATV accidents from 1982 to 2005, and the number just keeps rising faster.

Allegheny County leads the state with nearly 7,500 registered All-Terrain Vehicles. That could help to explain why Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has already admitted more children in 2007 than in all of 2006. So far, 83 children have been treated for ATV-related injuries, topping the 72 treated last year.

The majority of accidents come from children who ride adult size ATVs. Over 90 percent of US children treated for ATV injuries could potentially avoid their life-changing accidents if their parents make sure that they ride smaller child size ATVs instead. But until that time, PA will continue to be a primary contributor to the growing number ATV accident deaths.