gerene denning, phd gerene-denning@uiowa · gerene denning, phd gerene-denning@uiowa.edu ... yes no...

Gerene Denning, PhD gerene-denning@uiowa.edu

University of Iowa Emergency Medicine

• Straddle seat

• Handle bars

• 4 low pressure off-road vehicle tires

• High clearance

• Narrow wheelbase

High Center of Gravity

Prone to Rollovers

Sport ATV

Utility ATV

• Generically referred to as side-by-sides.

• Maximum speed of >30 mph.

• 4 or more pneumatic off-road vehicle tires.

• Bench or bucket seats for 2 or more riders

• Steering wheel and foot pedals.

• Seat belts/Safety harness

• Rollover protection structure (ROPS)

• Passenger handle grips

Sport ROV

Multipurpose ROV

Prone to Rollovers To The Side

• Each year in the U.S., ATV crashes result in 700-800 deaths.

Since 1982, 60% of deaths have been from roadway crashes.

• More than 400,000 ATV-related injuries annually.

Iowa (2002-2013): 1/3 of non-fatal crashes were on the road.

When compared to off-road crashes:

ATV roadway crashes are more likely to involve…

Multiple riders and multiple deaths

A vehicle-vehicle collision

Severe trauma

Traumatic brain injuries

Roadway ROV crashes:

87% rollovers

73% while turning

85% on flat or gentle

slope

95% on clear or cloudy

day

93% on dry surface

Roadway Off-Road

More than half of documented ROV crashes are on the road

56% 44%

Consumer Product Safety Commission Data (2002-2011)

Yes No

18%

82%

Have you ever ridden an ATV on a public road?

>4,600 Iowa students (11-16 years old)

Have you ever ridden an ATV on a public road?

Yes No

635 Farm Progress Show Attendees

34%

66%

“It must be safer on nice flat open

roads than off-road.”

The majority of fatal ATV crashes …

1/3 of non-fatal Iowa ATV crashes

>50% of all ROV crashes …

… are on the road.

Rollover

Typical turning path for a car High Center of Gravity

Once center of mass is

off balance, hard to

restore control.

CM Fixed Rear Axle

Increased risk of

losing control in

a turn

Low Pressure Off-Road Vehicle Tires

Unexpectedly grab paved surfaces

Unpredictably interact with unpaved

surfaces and to ruts and bumps in the road.

Rollover

Vehicle Design Contributes to Loss of Control On the Road

vs.

Roadway Off-Road

“It’s safe on the roads as long as

there is not much traffic.”

Yes No

9-State Region Farm Equipment Crashes (ATVs not included)

Did the ATV crash involve another vehicle on the road?

Fatal U.S. Roadway Crashes Non-Fatal Iowa Roadway Crashes

Yes No

13%

87%

Yes No

71%

29%

85%

15%

Harland et al., Acc Anal Prev, 2014

Yes No

Did the ROV crash involve another vehicle on the road?

93%

7%

ROVs Farm Equipment

Yes No

85%

15%

CPSC ROV Data (2002-2011)

Harland et al. Acc Anal Prev, 2014

Very high percentages of

ATV and ROV crashes are

single vehicle crashes, i.e.

not traffic-related.

“I enjoy the scenery riding on

roads in the middle of nowhere,

where it’s safe.”

A window of time following traumatic injury during which there is the highest likelihood that prompt medical treatment will prevent death.

Ambulance

Remote rural roads in Iowa

may be particularly

dangerous if a crash occurs.

“The warnings say paved roads,

so unpaved roads must be safe.”

Consumer Product Safety Commission ATV Fatality Data (1982-2012)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Paved Unpaved

Per

cen

t o

f R

oad

way

Fat

alit

ies

58%

42%

100% Paved

100% Unpaved

27 states

21 states

2 states 50%

Controlling for helmet use, CHANCES of getting a head injury are …

TWICE as high in UNPAVED roadway crashes …

3 times higher in PAVED roadway crashes …

When you compare them with OFF-ROAD crashes.

We recommend safety labels and training materials use the more general term

“public roads”.

“It’s safe on the roads as long as I

follow the speed limit.”

20 mph or less Over 20 mph

Estimated Speed of Single Vehicle ROV Crash

47% 53%

CPSC ROV Data (2002-2011)

• Many ATV and ROV crashes occur

well below posted speed limits.

• Higher speeds if a crash occurs are

more likely to result in serious

injuries or even death.

“Bad stuff rarely happens and even

if it does, there’s nothing we can

do to prevent it. ”

Appeared to unexpectedly turn to the right …. Jordan

Muxfeldt and her 3-year-old son were thrown from the

vehicle …. victim landed on pavement …. she was

carrying twins (a boy and girl) who also died.

The most recent fatal ATV crash on Iowa’s roads happened last month (March 14, 2016).

The most recent fatal ROV crash on Iowa’s roads happened three days ago (April 23, 2016).

Operating on road … left road and ended up in drainage ditch … not wearing seat belt … ejected from vehicle … later died from injuries.

If riders simply avoided the road except when

absolutely necessary, we could prevent …

hundreds of deaths and …

thousands of injuries and …

save billions of dollars …

every year.

Gerene Denning, PhD gerene-denning@uiowa.edu

University of Iowa Emergency Medicine