Dangerous ATV's and the Rhino

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Jason Krebs

Here in Southwest Missouri, we recently finished our 2008 deer season. Deer hunting is big business here, especially in Taney, Stone, Ozark, Douglas County and counties that have sections of the Mark Twain National Forest in them. These days, the deer camp does not seem complete without an ATV. One of these ATV’s , the Yamaha Rhino is a new category called a UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) Many farmers in Southwest Missouri now have these UTV’s including the Yamaha Rhino as well.

Recently the Wall Street Journal featured the Yamaha Rhino in a front page article. The article states that Yamaha is currently facing over 200 lawsuits and 30 instances of wrongful death, primarily from rollover accidents. The two-seat vehicle resembles a cross between a golf cart and an ATV. It's a popular design that enthusiasts say makes the Rhino fun to drive but the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)  is investigating whether stricter regulations are needed to make the Rhino safer.

It is the believe of many personal injury lawyers that the vehicle is too narrow and too tall which causes the vehicle to tip and leads to a rollover accident. Yamaha defends that many of the complaints are due to improper operation, modifications such as taking off the "protective roll cage", and failure to wear a helmet or seat belt. There are currently no regulatory standards on UTV’s, which have a steering wheel, yet do not adhere to automobile safety requirements, and it’s not until after an injury is reported do lawmakers and regulators intervene. Consumeraffairs.com states that “the Rhino falls into what the CPSC calls the "emerging hazard" category -- a niche sometimes created by crafty manufacturers who find ways to work around existing safety regulations.”

According to consumeraffairs.com, new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Injury Sciences indicates injuries associated with the use of golf carts may be under-appreciated, suggesting the need for the implementation of new safety measures.

Mark Huffington of consumeraffairs.com recently reported that according to the June issue of the Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection and Critical Care, UAB researchers found that there were more than 48,255 golf-cart related injuries between 2002 and 2005, with the highest injury rates observed in males 10-19 years old and those over 80.  Gerald McGwin, Ph.D., associate director for research at the Center for Injury Sciences says fractures and head trauma are among the most common injuries associated with golf cart-related accidents. Due to the high risk of rollover and ejection, he recommends the use of helmets and seatbelts.

If any of you have had similar experiences with off road vehicles please tell me about it. 

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There are too many motorcycle wrecks in Southwest Missouri

Posted on November 14, 2008 by Jason Krebs

 It seems like I can't pick up the local paper or turn on the news without reading about another Southwest Missouri or Northern Arkansas motorcycle accident. With gas prices what they were (and may be again), a lot more people were taking advantage of the fuel economy a motorcycle or moped offers.

 Here are the statistics for 2007.  I think 2008 will be worse, so do others.  These stats don't even take into account smaller 49cc and below mopeds.  By July this year Springfield had  six fatal motorcycle accidents and the Springfield Police Department has investigated a total of 42 motorcycle crashes.  I have not seen the numbers for the fall.  

MOTORCYCLE INVOLVEMENT 

This section presents a series of data displays which describe motorcycle involvement in Missouri's traffic crash experience. Motorcycle traffic crashes are defined as any crash in which one or more motorcycles were involved in the incident.
Mopeds and all terrain vehicles (ATV's) are not considered motorcycles for the purpose of this analysis. Data displays also are provided in this section which identify characteristics of motorcycle drivers in traffic crashes.

2007 SUMMARY ANALYSIS

􏰁  Of all 2007 Missouri traffic crashes, 1.5% involved a motorcycle. Of all fatal traffic crashes, 10.0%
involved a motorcycle. A total of 93 persons were killed and 2,179 were injured in motorcycle crashes.
􏰁 There was an increase of 2.8% in the rate of change when comparing total 2007 motorcycle traffic
crashes with those in 2006. There was a decrease of 2.2% when comparing fatal 2007 motorcycle
crashes with 2006.
􏰁 In 2007, one person was killed or injured in a motorcycle traffic crash every 3.9 hours in the State of Missouri.
􏰁 Of all 2007 motorcycle crashes, the first harmful event in 42.4% of the cases involved one motor
vehicle in transport striking another motor vehicle in transport. In 25.8% of the cases, it involved a
motor vehicle overturning. In fatal motorcycle traffic crashes, 30.3% of the cases involved a motor
vehicle striking a fixed object.
􏰁 Of all 2007 motorcycle traffic crashes, 52.0% occurred in urban regions of the State and 48.0% oc-
curred in rural areas. However, in fatal motorcycle crashes, 62.9% occurred in a rural area.
􏰁 Of all motorcycle drivers in traffic crashes, 93.9% were male and 6.1% were female. The average age of motorcyclists was 39.2 years.
􏰁 Motorcycle drivers were speeding in 51.7% of all fatal motorcycle traffic crashes and their drinking was a causative factor in 18.0% of these crashes.

Of those motorcyclists in 2007 traffic crashes who wore a helmet, 30.0% were either killed or received a major disabling injury. Of those not wearing helmets, 39.3% were either killed or received a major disabling injury.
(From the Missouri Highway Patrol 2007 Traffic Safety Compendium)

 

With so many people out enjoying the Ozarks , Branson area and riding their motorcycles to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, be careful and keep an eye out for not just motorcyclists but bicyclists,mopeds,  pedestrians and other auto drivers.  

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