Helmets should be mandatory for anyone using all-terrain vehicles, both on and off roads and in all of Canada, say ThinkFirst Canada researchers in a recently published article.  The group studied 10 years of ATV deaths in Ontario, noting that of the 74 people who died, just a single death occurred in 1996 and 1997, compared to 16 per year in 2004 and 2005.

The research was led by Sarah Lord, with Charles Tator and Sandy Wells, and published in the May 2010 issue of the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. The authors note the increasing popularity of ATVS. Close to one million ATVs were registered in Canada in 2005. Two-thirds of ATVs are used for recreation and the other one-third for farming and other industrial settings.

Highlights of the research include:

• The most deaths occurred among those aged 15-29 years, with 21% of those killed under 16 years old. Nine in 10 deaths were among males and 80% of those who died were the ATV drivers.
• Northeastern Ontario had the highest fatality rate.
• Most of the deaths were due to head trauma and 60% of those who died were not wearing helmets.
• Notable risk factors included alcohol use, riding at night, lack of helmet use and excessive speed.

Recommendations

The researchers concluded that laws should be adopted focusing on mandatory helmet requirements, a minimum driver age of 16 and certified training courses. Health professionals should take an active role in working towards preventing these kinds of injuries. Aggressive injury prevention efforts should be targeted toward males aged 15-29.

They note that unlike some provinces, current Ontario legislation does not restrict the use of ATVs on public roads and has minimal restrictions on children under 16.