Post by Woody Williams on Jul 26, 2005 6:41:04 GMT -5
Kentucky helmet law urged for ATV riders under age 16
By JOE BIESK Associated Press writer
July 26, 2005
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Advocates for increased safety on all-terrain vehicles on Monday called for a statewide law that would at least require children age 16 and younger to wear helmets while riding their four-wheelers.
Kentucky has been among the nation's top states in the number of ATV deaths and injuries, advocates told the interim joint Committee on Health and Welfare.
Children and teens younger than 16 are perhaps the most vulnerable because they often lack the physical strength and cognitive development needed to safely maneuver the off-road vehicles, said Dr. Roger Humphries, chairman of the emergency medicine department at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.
"Children shouldn't be put in a position where they're injured like this," Humphries said. "Car accidents will happen. But this is different. This is basically an irresponsibility of society."
Similar measures have been proposed in previous sessions of the General Assembly but have stalled. Advocates are hoping that changes when lawmakers return to Frankfort next year.
Mary Haas, of the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky, said the organization would like even tougher changes. For now, the state should require youngsters to wear helmets while riding all-terrain vehicles, Haas said.
"It's time for Kentucky to protect the children of the commonwealth," Haas said. "Children are dying on ATVs, and children are being seriously injured."
Kentucky had 109 ATV-related deaths between 2000 and 2002 - the highest number of fatalities in the nation, said Michele Finn, also of the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky. Pennsylvania was second with 73 deaths during that time, followed by Texas with 70, Finn said. The numbers were based on statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Finn said.
An internal UK study showed that between 1996 and 2000, the hospital's trauma center admitted 151 patients under the age of 18 with ATV-related injuries, Humphries said.
Humphries pushed for stricter changes, including a helmet requirement for any ATV rider, regardless of age. Among other things, the state should also ban anyone younger than 16 from riding ATVs and require riders to be licensed and successfully complete safety courses, Humphries said.
Don Young, a member of the Eastern Kentucky ATV Association, said it's unsafe for anyone to ride all-terrain vehicles without a helmet. But Young said he wasn't sure whether a law was needed. Both children and adults should also be required to attend safety classes, Young said.
www.courierpress.com/ecp/local_news/article/0,1626,ECP_745_3953498,00.html
By JOE BIESK Associated Press writer
July 26, 2005
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Advocates for increased safety on all-terrain vehicles on Monday called for a statewide law that would at least require children age 16 and younger to wear helmets while riding their four-wheelers.
Kentucky has been among the nation's top states in the number of ATV deaths and injuries, advocates told the interim joint Committee on Health and Welfare.
Children and teens younger than 16 are perhaps the most vulnerable because they often lack the physical strength and cognitive development needed to safely maneuver the off-road vehicles, said Dr. Roger Humphries, chairman of the emergency medicine department at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.
"Children shouldn't be put in a position where they're injured like this," Humphries said. "Car accidents will happen. But this is different. This is basically an irresponsibility of society."
Similar measures have been proposed in previous sessions of the General Assembly but have stalled. Advocates are hoping that changes when lawmakers return to Frankfort next year.
Mary Haas, of the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky, said the organization would like even tougher changes. For now, the state should require youngsters to wear helmets while riding all-terrain vehicles, Haas said.
"It's time for Kentucky to protect the children of the commonwealth," Haas said. "Children are dying on ATVs, and children are being seriously injured."
Kentucky had 109 ATV-related deaths between 2000 and 2002 - the highest number of fatalities in the nation, said Michele Finn, also of the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky. Pennsylvania was second with 73 deaths during that time, followed by Texas with 70, Finn said. The numbers were based on statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Finn said.
An internal UK study showed that between 1996 and 2000, the hospital's trauma center admitted 151 patients under the age of 18 with ATV-related injuries, Humphries said.
Humphries pushed for stricter changes, including a helmet requirement for any ATV rider, regardless of age. Among other things, the state should also ban anyone younger than 16 from riding ATVs and require riders to be licensed and successfully complete safety courses, Humphries said.
Don Young, a member of the Eastern Kentucky ATV Association, said it's unsafe for anyone to ride all-terrain vehicles without a helmet. But Young said he wasn't sure whether a law was needed. Both children and adults should also be required to attend safety classes, Young said.
www.courierpress.com/ecp/local_news/article/0,1626,ECP_745_3953498,00.html
