When Off-Road Vehicles Go On The Road Challenges of All-Terrain Vehicle Roadway Crash Surveillance

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1 When Off-Road Vehicles Go On The Road Challenges of All-Terrain Vehicle Roadway Crash Surveillance Gerene Denning, PhD Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa 1

2 2 ATV Roadway Fatalities Consumer Product Safety Commission data ( ) shows that: Over 60% of ATV-related deaths were from roadway crashes. After 1998, roadway deaths increased at twice the rate of offroad deaths. Compared to fatal off-road crashes, crashes on the road were: More likely to result in multiple deaths. More likely to involve alcohol. (45% of all fatal crashes).

3 3 ATV-Related Roadway Injuries Compared to off-road crashes, non-fatal ATV crashes (Iowa) were more likely to: Involve a collision with another vehicle. Result in severe brain injury. Have high Injury Severity Trauma Scores. All ATV Roadway Crashes: Half of all deaths and injuries are among victims <25 years old. Riders are less likely to be helmeted than off-road and more likely to suffer a head injury.

4 4 Youth Are At High-Risk Exposure among youth in our state is high: Over 4,600 students (11-16 years old) surveyed. 77% had ridden on an ATV Both town and country kids. Risky behaviors and crashes are common: 92% had ridden with passengers a risk factor for crashing. 81% had ridden on a public road. 57% had been in a crash (rolled over, fell off, hit something). Knowledge is limited: Only 42% knew riding on the roads was illegal. Those who knew were just as likely to have ridden on the road.

5 5 Why Are ATVs So Dangerous On The Road?

6 6 Not All Tires are Created Equal Well inflated automobile tires with good tread are designed to GRIP and RELEASE the ROAD surface to help maintain control of the vehicle Under-inflated, knobby ATV tires are designed to handle UNEVEN, ROUGH off-road surfaces On roads, they can GRAB the surface and throw a rider off, or cause the ATV to ROLL OVER, particularly while turning Automobile Tires ATV Tires

7 High Center of Gravity + Low Pressure Tires Typical turning path for a car High

oversized ATVs lessen the impact of leaning into turns, making rollover more likely

Rollover ATV tires unexpectedly grab pavement Increases risk of losing control on

7 7 High Center of Gravity + Low Pressure Tires Typical turning path for a car High center of gravity Increases risk of rollovers CM New drivers, passengers, and oversized ATVs lessen the impact of leaning into turns, making rollover more likely Lack of rear differential. Increases risk of losing control in turn. Rollover ATV tires unexpectedly grab pavement Increases risk of losing control on paved surfaces ATV tires are compressible Increases risk of losing control when hit rut or bump on unpaved surfaces

8 ATVs and Other Traffic Don t Mix 8 "Allowing unlicensed, uninspected ATVs [on roads] with other vehicular traffic is a recipe for disaster." -Pennsylvania Forest Coalition Coordinator ATVs must use a wider turning radius and much slower speeds in turns ATVs entering the road from a ditch do so at extreme risk. Visibility of the ATV and oncoming traffic is limited in the ditch. The surface change from grass to gravel to pavement compounds problems, and can lead to loss of control. Only 1 out of 3 ATV roadway crashes involve a collision with another vehicle

80% 60% 625-900 375-600 100-350 <90 40% 20% 0%

9 Percent of Vehicles in Fatal Crashes 9 ATVs Are Getting Bigger and Faster 100% Engine Size (cc) 80% 60% <90 40% 20% 0%

10 10 Disturbing Trend in ATV Legislation

11 11 More States Letting ATVs on Roads Recent legislation: Since states have increased roadway access for ATVs or moved in that direction Three states passed laws allowing ATVs on public roads. In some states, changes are occurring at the county and city levels.

12 12 Vehicle Terminology Leads to Confusion Some vehicles are offhighway vehicles (OHV) but operate on paved surfaces Names Matter Some vehicles are more accurately called offroad vehicles (ORV) Cedar County Board of Supervisor justifying support for legalizing roadway riding All-terrain vehicle, the name says it all

13 13 Warnings Lead To Confusion on public roads a collision can occur with another vehicle avoid paved surfaces pavement may seriously affect handling and control

14 14 Road Surface Differences Fatal crashes on paved vs. unpaved roads: After 1998, paved roadway crashes increased at twice the rate of crashes on unpaved roads. Relative to unpaved roads, crash victims on paved roads were: More likely to be intoxicated. Less likely to be helmeted. More likely to suffer brain injury.

15 15 All Roads Lead to Tragedy However, states varied by their proportion of fatal paved vs. unpaved roadway crashes (CPSC ): 21 states had >50% on unpaved 2 states had 50% each 22 states had >50% on paved Both surface types were more likely to involve a collision and head injury relative to off-road crashes.

16 16 The Rules are Different For ATVs Traffic density matters, but not as much as for other vehicles. Operator-vehicle-environmental dynamics on the road are so complex, there is: No definable safe speed for ATVs. No safe surface type. Most changes in engineering design are decreasing not increasing safety. Current adult models weigh over 800 lbs and can go over 70 mph.

17 17 Surveillance and Injury Prevention

18 18 Crash and Injury Surveillance Good surveillance includes all relevant variables: Person-related Vehicle-related Crash-related Environment-related Thorough and accurate documentation Surveillance data can be used to: Define a problem. Measure impact of injury prevention intervention.

19 19 What Is An ATV Anyway And Why Does It Matter?

20 Vehicle Design Matters Contributors to vehicle crashes are based on vehicle design. 20

21 Single Rider ATVs 3-Wheeler Manufacture banned in Wheeler Sports ATV Utility ATV 21

22 22 Two-Rider ATVs (2-Up) Passengers on single-rider ATVs increase risk of crash. We know nothing about the stability of this vehicle.

23 23 Side by Sides Utility Side by Side (UTV) Recreational Side by Side (ROV)

24 Single Rider With Safety Features 24

25 25 CHALLENGE #1 IDENTIFYING GENERAL VEHICLE TYPE

26 26 Variable Coding From State to State Whereas a few states have specific codes for ATVs, many have general codes. ATVs might be coded into one or more of them, even in the same database. Off Highway Vehicle ATV, UTV, ROV Moped or Scooter Motor Bike Snowmobile Golf Cart Recreational Vehicles ATV, UTV, ROV Moped or Scooter Motor Bike Snowmobile Golf Cart RV Camper Farm Equipment ATV, UTV, ROV Tractor Combine Grain Truck

27 27 CHALLENGE #2 THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

28 28 Mechanistically Important Information Wheel Number: ATVs can have 3 or 4 wheels. Side by sides can have 4 or 6 wheels. Rider capacity: ATVs can be single or double rider. UTVs and ROVs can have one or more rows of benches. Rollover Protection Device (ROP) and safety belts: Narrative searches for roll cage, roll bar, safety belt, etc After Market Modification

29 29 After-Market Seat Add-Ons That one is decent, but a little pricey, I really just want a seat and some hand grips so its easier for my 6yo daughter to occasionally ride with me. Any suggestions?

30 30 Collecting Important Vehicle Characteristics Example of Coding Issues DOT Data Make/Model/Year VIN Not always on vehicle Not always available at scene from rider(s) Make Documented = 61% Model Documented = 47% Year Documented = 85% No standard placement Decoding not easily accessible Recording numbers that are not VIN % Documentation 42% 64%

31 31 The Model Matters Stability testing shows differences between: ATV models. UTV models. Studies of seat design shows wide variability between: Seat length. Distance between seat front and handle grips.

32 32 CHALLENGE #3 LINKING DATABASES

33 33 Creating A Statewide Database Goals Integrated data from several Iowa statewide data sources ( ) Department of Transportation (DOT) Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State Trauma Registry (STR) Each data set offered challenges for identifying the vehicles involved. Records were linked using CDC software and several identifiers.

34 34 Documentation Of Integrated Database HUMAN VEHICLE ENVIRONMENT INJURY

35 35 CHALLENGES CAN BE OPPORTUNITIES

36 36 Partnering To Solve Problems Goals National Highway Safety Administration State Department of Transportation State and Local Law Enforcement ATV Injury Prevention Researchers Emergency Medical Service Providers

37 37 Future Directions Goals Challenge #1: Identifying Vehicle Type Coding system for non-roadway vehicles. Challenge #2: Vehicle-Related Variables User-friendly data collection tools. Training for law enforcement. A picture is worth a thousand words. Challenge #3: Linking Databases Common identifier for crash and injury data sources.

38 38 Primary Intervention Public policy advocacy to get ATVs and UTVs off the road (through legislation and enforcement), except for work-related purposes.

39 39 Acknowledgements Goals Charles Jennissen, MD (Univ. of IA) Kari Harland, PhD (Univ. of IA) Iowa ATV Injury Prevention Task Force Iowa Department of Transportation Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center Great Plains Center for Agricultural Safety and Health Johnson County Rural Health and Safety Clinic

40 40 Thank You Questions?

PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY of CANADA AGENCE DE SANTÉ PUBLIQUE du CANADA

PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY of CANADA AGENCE DE SANTÉ PUBLIQUE du CANADA Emergency Department Surveillance Injuries associated with Motorized Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles The Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting