OHVs Linked to Nearly 2,300 Deaths from 2015 to 2017

CPSC knew of 2,258 deaths involving off-highway vehicles in 2015-2017, the latest years with complete data. Annual counts were 749 in 2017, 763 in 2016, and 746 in 2015, according to the December report (bit.ly/3iIRD9Y) that the agency made available January 22. It looked only at vehicles with more than two wheels (mostly four) and showed that all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) accounted for majority of deaths at 1,697 over the three years – 530 in 2017, 575 in 2016, and 592 in 2015.

Recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) accounted for 445 – 172 in 2017, 154 in 2016, and 119 in 2015. Utility vehicles (UTVs) were linked to 47 deaths – 15 in 2017, 16 in 2016, and 16 in 2015. Deaths involving unknown vehicles (but likely either ROVs or UTVs) were 69 overall – 32 in 2017, 18 in 2016, and 19 in 2015.

Some events included multiple deaths, so incident counts are slightly lower. There were 2,210 fatal incidents over the period, 1,671 with ATVs, 424 with ROVs, and 47 UTVs. Annual breakdowns were similarly different. The unknown category did mirror the death count at 69 overall, etc.

The report also looked at youth deaths. Ages under 16 years accounted for 353 deaths – 115 in 2017, 110 in 2016, and 128 in 2015. Ages under 12 (part of the last group) accounted for 171 – 51 in 2017, 51 in 2016, and 69 in 2015.

Overturning and collisions were the main hazard patterns.

Also included were injury estimates, the most recent for 2019 at 96,000 – 25,800 under 16 and 12,900 under 12.

Without age group overlaps, 2019 injuries involved under 12 years (12,900) 12-15 (also 12,900), 16-24 (24,000), 25-34 (17,800), 35-44 (12,000), 45-54 (8,100), and 55+ (8,200).