By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As safety goes, the biggest problem with all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) is the riders, said Dr. Dee Jepsen, Ohio State University state safety leader; accidents happen because riders don’t understand the design of the vehicles.

Jepson listed some common misconceptions.

“ATVs have low-pressure tires,” she began. “They’re not like a car or even a bicycle, where you put a lot of air in them and have high pressure.”

Low-pressure tires can dig in and hold onto the mud, grass, gravel or whatever the terrain.

But that type of tire should never go on pavement.

The tires can’t dig in and they have no traction, so the driver has no control. People comment that they always drive their ATV on the road, Jepsen said.

“If they understood the design of the vehicle, they would understand that that is not a good idea,” she added. “The other thing they don’t understand is the fact that ATVs have a straight axle.

“Compare that to a bicycle or a dirt bike, where the tires from the front to the back are different and they operate differently.

“A bicycle, you would be able to turn that on a dime, whereas an ATV it takes a long time to make that turn. You need a lot of space.”

Accidents often happen because people run into trees, go under fences and hit the sides of barns, Jepsen said. What they don’t take into consideration is the amount of time it takes to turn away from the hazard.

“I think that is part of the problem with children,” Jepsen said. “They’ve ridden bikes all their lives and they get on an ATV and they think it is similar, where it is not.”

Moving beyond design to what ATV riders should wear, Jepsen recommends long pants and long sleeves – but a helmet is paramount and that’s the first thing one should have. Also, helmets will wear out over time. If the helmet has been in a crash or bounced around, it should be replaced.

Jepsen also recommends that parents abide by the manufacturer’s warning that no one under 16 should operate the full-sized vehicles. Children can’t reach the pedals or controls fully.

“Just sitting on top of the vehicle is not good enough,” Jepsen said. “ATVs are ‘rider active,’ which means the rider has to have the ability to handle that vehicle, to turn it, to slide back and forth on the seat – it is not like driving in a car where you just sit there and turn the steering wheel. This vehicle has to be balanced, you have to counterbalance your weight.”

Another safety warning: Don’t ride double, Jepsen said. ATVs are not designed for that.

The seat is really long and it looks as if there is plenty of room, but “there’s no safe place to be on the ATV unless you’re the driver.”

“ATVs: Work Smart. Ride Safe” is the theme for National Farm Safety and Health Week this month. The U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission reports 410 deaths related to ATV use in 2008 and estimates more than 135,000 injuries treated in the nation’s emergency rooms.

For additional information, go online to www.necasag.org or phone 888-844-6322.

Ohio offers an ATV safety project for 4-H members and OSU offers a free ATV training course. Instructors ask that 4-6 people be involved.

The instructors will come to a farm, fairgrounds or other location to teach the class. For information, phone 614-292-0622.