Farm and Ranch ATV Safety (blog post)
Any John Wayne fan knows that being a cowboy is dangerous work. Outlaws, stampeding cattle and bucking broncos are a few of the dangers portrayed in classic westerns. However, many real-life farmers and ranchers in the modern West have traded in their horses for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and their new motorized rides come with dangers of their own.
According to the eXtension.org website, in one year alone, there were over 135,000 ATV accidents in the United States resulting in 410 fatalities. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that Utah had 48 recorded ATV deaths between the years of 2008–2011.
Richard Beard is an associate professor at Utah State University (USU). He's also an ag engineering and pesticide specialist for the university's Extension program. He's instructed ATV safety for many years and has personal experience using ATVs for agricultural work and recreation. Beard says that “The frequency in which ATV accidents and deaths are reported in Utah newspapers should make it evident that ATV accidents caused by unsafe practices are all too common.”
Beard says many factors contribute to ATV accidents, but speed is the number one problem that he sees in terms of both cause and severity. “Excessive speed compounds any accident,” says Beard. He recommends maintaining “a safe, (low) speed for changes in terrain, changes in direction (sharp turns) and changes in elevation (slopes).”
Beard mentions rollovers, collisions with stationery objects like “rocks, fences, holes, terrain drop-offs, etc.” and other vehicles or ATVs as other types of accidents that occur on and off farms and ranches. Further hazards involve terrain such as steep slopes. Loose ground like dirt, rocks and gravel can cause a vehicle to lose traction and overturn. People's actions can also cause or worsen accidents. Carrying passengers on vehicles designed for one person is a dangerous behavior. Distractions can also be a problem. Beard says many accidents occur when operators stop paying attention for a moment. Another person or object distracts them, and then they over-correct.
What are some of the more dangerous activities involving ATVs on farms and ranches? “Using ATVs to move livestock, where higher speeds over irregular terrain, allows for frequent mishaps,” he says.
Despite their dangers, there are steps that make the use of ATVs safer. Always wear proper safety equipment; A USU Extension fact sheet recommends a proper helmet, gloves, goggles or a face shield, high-top boots, long pants and long sleeves. Beard recommends being careful operating ATVs in poor weather and low visibility conditions (especially in unfamiliar areas).
For additional information on ATV safety, Beard recommends the USU Extension 4-H ATV training and certification program. He says the Utah Farm Bureau Federation has a similar program as well.