Riding ATVs safely

Of the nearly 6,500 Americans killed in all-terrain vehicle accidents over the past 23 years, nearly one-third were under the age of 16. In 2004, ATV accidents killed 13 Missourians and injured 160.

Those tragic numbers have prompted calls from some quarters to ban children under 16 from operating ATVs.

An ATV accident has claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy in Cape Girardeau County in each of the past two years.

ATVs can't be operated on Missouri roads unless the use is agricultural, governmental or industrial and during daylight hours. Anyone under 16 must be under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian. But no restrictions apply on private land.

Danger is part of the thrill of riding an ATV, but children don't always appreciate just how dangerous these vehicles can be. Just as parents should insist their children wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, parents at the least must insist their children always wear a helmet when riding on an ATV. And If direct supervision is a good idea on the roads, then it's a good idea in the fields and woods, too.