Brown: ATV popularity revs debate over safety and road use

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Riding four-wheelers, or all-terrain vehicles, is a lot of fun. Trees whip past as you barrel through the woods. Water cascades as you blast through mud puddles. It’s like being a centaur. Person on top, powerful beast down below.

ATVs are a huge part of life in rural Minnesota. For decades, these machines have served a useful purpose in running a farm or maintaining a large piece of property. With attachments, they work well for snow removal and other jobs. And, of course, Minnesotans use recreational ATVs more than ever as the number and quality of trails expands across the state.

But the role of ATVs is growing beyond their original intent. A rising number of fatalities has state and local law enforcement wondering how to keep everyone safe as more people take to roads with off-road vehicles.

ATVs are classified in two categories. In general, Class 1 is the narrower kind you ride on, and Class 2 is the wider kind you ride in. Most of us learned how to ride on Class 1 machines, but today’s consumers can’t get enough Class 2s from brands like Polaris, Can-Am, Yamaha and Honda.

Part of the reason for their popularity is that Class 2s, often called side-by-sides or UTVs, are incredibly comfortable and easy to operate. They have doors, windshields and steering wheels, along with climate control, sound systems and amenities that frankly outshine those found in my first three cars.

“The ATV manufacturers created a machine that has conveniences like a car, but none of the safety features that cars and trucks have,” said Lawrence.

That means no crash testing or air bags, limited suspension and tires designed to grab rough terrain rather than maintain traction on pavement. The vehicles’ higher center of gravity makes them very easy to tip or roll over, which are common factors in deadly accidents.

“They have a cage to reduce injuries, but if people don’t wear seat belts or helmets they will get hurt,” said Lawrence.

In 2023, 16 people died in ATV accidents in Minnesota. In 2024, that number jumped to 30, almost double. This year we entered September already at 16 fatalities, slightly behind last year’s pace but with hunting season yet to come. Half of those fatalities were in UTVs.

This tragic uptick in accidents coincides with a rising number of counties that allow Class 2 ATVs on county roads. But opinions are divided over whether these road policies cause more accidents.

Ramsay said St. Louis County still has the most fatal ATV crashes in Minnesota, mostly due to the county’s large size and high number of licensed ATVs. He said most accidents still occur off-road or on designated trails.

Neighboring Itasca County, where I live, became one of the first to allow ATVs on county roads in 2017. With 1,000 lakes and more than 1,000 miles of dedicated trails, Itasca County represents an ATV wonderland.

When I drive to the country store, I see as many side-by-sides on the road as I do automobiles or trucks. Most riders operate their machines appropriately, hugging the right shoulder of the road. But several times I’ve passed a UTV on the shoulder or right of way going almost as fast as my minivan. You might come around a curve to find a UTV in traffic lanes.

Itasca County Sheriff Joe Dasovich said driver inexperience, drug and alcohol use and speed are the most common factors in accidents.

“We’ve been lucky the past few years, but this year has seen a substantial uptick,” said Dasovich, who attributes this to a larger number of ATV riders overall.

During the same period, the county saw 547 passenger car accidents, with 208 injuries and 8 fatalities. Per capita, you’re far more likely to get injured or killed if you get in an ATV accident than you are if you get into an automobile accident. Automotive safety features, take a bow.

People now use ATVs as transportation, taking them on short trips instead of driving cars or trucks. Most of the time nothing bad happens, but even the manufacturers would say that this isn’t what UTVs were designed for.

The first and most basic suggestion would be to do what the owner’s manual says. Buckle the provided seat belts and always maintain a safe speed. I get why you don’t want to wear a helmet, but if you roll over the first thing to hit the ground will be your head. Pavement conditions and tire types are particularly important factors in operating UTVs on roads. Don’t go too fast on dry pavement with off-road tires. It’s easy to overcorrect.

A recent state law requires all ATV riders born after July 1, 1987, to take an online safety course, and for kids aged 12-15 to take in-person training.

UTVs remain the largest and fastest-growing part of Minnesota’s ATV market. Lawrence said it’s important to consider safety before buying one.