Oklahoma State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
(405) 521-5774

For Immediate Release: March 1, 2006

Children’s ATV Safety Act Wins Senate Approval

The Senate has approved a measure aimed at reducing injuries and deaths of children and teens due to ATV accidents. Sen. Bernest Cain is the author of Senate Bill 1830, which would require all riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet.

“The bottom line here is we can save lives in Oklahoma with this simple precaution,” said Cain, D-Oklahoma City. “Wearing helmets while riding ATVs can reduce deaths by 42 percent and it can reduce nonfatal head injuries by 64 percent.”

A study published in the May 2005 Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association looked at traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries from 1992 through 2002. In that time, close to 400 people had traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. Some were children as young as three years old. Sixty-two people were killed.

That same study showed that the numbers of injuries during that period tripled, from an average of 23 a year before 1998, to 69 in 2001 and 2002.

“But we also know that out of all those people who were injured while riding an ATV, only six percent were wearing a helmet—and no one wearing a helmet died,” Cain said. “That should tell you how important wearing a helmet is.”

ATVS used for agricultural purposes would be exempt from the proposal.

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

For more information contact:
Senator Cain's Office - (405) 521-5610