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All-terrain vehicles, better known by ATVs, have been on the market for over 30 years, but the number of injuries and deaths in recent years has increased. In Kentucky from 1999 to 2002, the state had one of the highest death rates from ATV injuries in the country.

A total 112 Kentucky residents died because of their ATV injuries during this period. While every state has laws to promote safety on the roadways and highways, including age limits and licensing and training requirements for every driver of a car, there are no strict guidelines when it comes to riding ATVs.

In 24 states, there is no minimum age to drive an ATV, and in 19 states, children from 8 to 12 years old can even drive an ATV. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said only seven percent of ATV drivers in 2001 learned to operate an ATV through a dealer, salesman or an organized training program.

In Kentucky, guidelines state that ATVs should only be used on private property except in certain circumstances, and the vehicles can only cross a public highway under certain circumstances. Kentucky law requires ATV riders to wear protective head gear whenever riding on public property unless the driver is engaged in farming or certain other business related activities.

When under the age of 16 years old in Kentucky, an ATV with an engine size larger than 90 cc should not be used, and a person under the age of 12 years old should not operate an ATV with an engine size larger than 70 cc. Any ATV rider under the age of 16 should not ride unless with direct parental supervision.

The use of protective helmets alone reduces the risk of a fatal head injury by 42 percent and the risk of non-fatal head injury by 64 percent. Kentucky ATV laws focus mainly on public property, but recommendations are also made for safe riding on private property, including always wearing helmet and eye protection, never carrying passengers, riding during daylight hours at reasonable speeds and not attempting to do stunts on the vehicles.