Silverton voters will soon decide whether all-terrain vehicles and off-highway vehicles can operate within town limits in a special election on April 25.
Since 2014, at least 25 individuals in Colorado have tragically died from OHV crashes, which includes ATVs, recreational off-highway vehicles and utility task vehicles, according to data gathered by the OHV Safety Coalition, a group organized by the Consumer Federation of America.
Of those 25 deaths, nine occurred on-road while 16 were off-road. This data is incomplete and may increase as the coalition continues to collect new data.
Nationally, more OHV deaths occur on-road than off-road. The OHV Safety Coalition has documented 612 OHV deaths in 2015, the most recent complete annual data. Of the 612 deaths, 373 (61 percent) occurred on-road while 212 (35 percent) occurred off-road.
Unfortunately, 36 states currently allow certain OHVs to operate on certain roads. In CFA’s March 2014 report, “ATVs on Roadways: A Safety Crisis,” CFA evaluated laws from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and found that in spite of warnings from manufacturers, federal agencies, and consumer and safety advocates, an increasing number of states are allowing them on public roads.
Off-highway vehicles are not designed for on-road use. OHVs have a relatively narrow track and high-center of gravity, placing OHVs at a higher risk for rollovers, and require that the vehicle takes wider turns than are found in standard road design. OHVs also have low-pressure, deep tread tires that can act unpredictably on roadway surfaces, especially with increasing speed.
Numerous groups and experts oppose operating ATVs and OHVs on roads, including ATV manufacturers, rider organizations (such as the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and Motorcyclist’s Association), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CFA, engineers, safety trainers and health care providers.
As Silverton voters go to the polls, we urge them not to expand ATV and OHV on-road use and to prioritize the health and safety of the residents and visitors of Silverton.
Rachel Weintraub and Michelle Styczynski
Consumer Federation of America Washington, D.C.
