Risk and preventive factors for fatalities in All-terrain Vehicle Accidents in New Zealand

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Abstract

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) have been used in agriculture for a few decades now. Yet despite their invaluable contribution to the productivity of the agricultural industry they are associated with a large number of accidents, many of which result in a severe or fatal outcome. The main objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for ATV-related fatal injuries in order to support the design of effective interventions. Using data held by the Department of Labour, the current study analysed 355 cases of serious harm accidents associated with ATVs including 45 fatalities. The findings suggest that injuries are more likely to occur when accidents involve any of the following: children under the age of 10; four-wheel drive ATVs; driving downhill; driving on a sealed road; driving backwards; or if the ATV rolls sideways. A fatal outcome is more likely to occur when ATV accidents end up with the vehicle rolling over and pinning the driver underneath. Fatalities were also associated with injuries to the head, neck and chest. Being employed; and/or having formal training; and/or having brakes and tyres well maintained on the ATV; and/or having no fluid load on the ATV reduced the risk for fatality. Since the likelihood of a fatal outcome was found to be related to human behaviour and ATV rollover, it is suggested that interventions should mainly address these two issues.

Section snippets

Theoretical background

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are three- and four-wheel motorised vehicles1 intended for use on various types of unpaved terrain. These vehicles have large low-pressure tyres, seats designed to be straddled, handlebars for steering, and motorcycle-type engines (Rodgers and Prowpit, 2001). Concerns about the safety

Data collection

This study used data held by the New Zealand Department of Labour (DOL) regarding notifications of serious harm in the years 2000–2008. The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 places an obligation on all employers to notify the Department of Labour when serious harm2

Circumstances relating to injury (serious and fatal injuries all together)

The results from the first analysis suggest that the circumstances where injuries are more likely to occur are any of those that involve children under 10 years of age, and/or a 4 × 4 ATV, and/or on sealed road and/or driving downward, and/or driving backward and and/or ending up rolling sideward (Table 1). Note that not all of these events need to happen simultaneously to increase the risk of injury occurring. Including the year in the analysis did not markedly affect the impact of other

Discussion

Driving an ATV appears to be a hazardous activity which can result in a fatal outcome (Brandenburg et al., 2007, Hall et al., 2009, Helmkamp et al., 2008b, Kellum et al., 2008, Lower et al., 2005, Moore, 2008, Moore and Bentley, 2004, Yonca, 2005). The aim of the current study was to specifically identify risk factors for serious ATV injuries as well as fatalities. Most importantly, this study aims to conceptualise the risk factors by identifying what underpins them and by that providing a

Conclusion

In conclusion, it appears that the risk of using ATVs is highly likely related to human behaviour, which could possibly be modified through proper training which particularly addresses driving skills as well as ATV maintenance. Hence, we urge ATV training providers to review their training programmes accordingly. In addition, the high risk for a fatal outcome when ATVs are rolled over, pinning the diver underneath, suggests that further consideration should be made for the use of ROPS and/or

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of the New Zealand Department of Labour (DoL) who funded the research and provided the information that this paper is based on. However, the authors stress that any opinions or findings made from this data are their own, and do not necessarily represent government policy or the opinion of the Department of Labour.

The authors wish to acknowledge Kelly Hanson-White and Kathy Drysdale from the Department of Labour for their input and assistance

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