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In this Saturday, July 11, 2015 photo, Bryce Dolan directs his daughter Mylee through the route of a training exercise during a youth ATV safety course at the Weber County Fairgrounds in Ogden, Utah. State Parks officials say only 38 percent of younger riders obtain proper certification for using ATVs, according to the Standard-Examiner. (Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner via AP) (Benjamin Zack, AP / Standard-Examiner)
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JULY 12, 2015
OGDEN, Utah (AP) —
The majority of kids using all-terrain vehicles in Utah hit the dirt without learning safety rules, state parks officials say.
The findings have Utah State Parks and health officials stepping up their efforts to educate parents and children who enjoy ATV riding. The importance of the issue has been in the spotlight following the death last week of a 9-year-old boy in Trementon.
"It becomes very personal when I see these kids coming into the hospital and it's something that can be prevented," said Janet Brooks, Primary Children's Hospital Child Advocacy manager.
Utah State Parks officials say only 38 percent of younger riders obtain proper certification for using ATVs, according to the Standard-Examiner in Ogden. Chris Haller, manager of the Parks and Recreation off-highway vehicle program, said 83 percent of registered OHV owners know about the education program on riding safety that's required for children under 16, so the small number of young riders getting certified is cause for alarm, Haller said.
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