Injury Prevention - BMJ Journals

Injury Prevention - BMJ Journals

Riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) remains popular among U.S. youth (ages 12-17), according to a new CDC study in Injury Prevention.

ATV Use

In 2011, an estimated 25% of youth reported that they had ridden an ATV at least once during the previous year. The proportion of rural youth who reported riding an ATV was double that of urban youth. Among riders, males tended to ride more often than females.

Helmet Use on ATVs

Only 45% of riders always wore a helmet, and 25% never wore a helmet. Youth who most frequently rode ATVs had the lowest consistent helmet use; 80% of youth who reported that they had ridden an ATV six or more times in the previous year did not always wear a helmet.

More Information

• Read the abstract to learn more about ATV riding and helmet use among U.S. youth.
  • Injury Prevention: ATV riding and helmet use among youth aged 12–17 years, United States, 2011: Results from the YouthStyles Survey.
• Learn more about CDC’s Injury Center.