ATV clubs across Minnesota are planning their schedules for 2020, including dates for their ATV Safety Training Classes. A dozen classes are already posted on the Minnesota DNR website. The DNR recently released its 2019 report of ATV accidents and fatalities. The numbers reinforce the importance of the work ATV clubs and their members put into safety training. Last year, 123 classes helped 2,735 youth ages 11 to 15 obtain their ATV Certificates, and 2,626 adults also were certified.

Bruce Lawrence, Recreational Vehicle Coordinator with the DNR Division of Enforcement, Safety Training and Education, provided ATVAM with several reports and state maps.

Facts from the "2019 Summary of Fatal ATV/OHM/ORV Accidents":

-There were 11 ATV fatalities:

-Of the 11 fatalities: 9 were on a road right-of-way, 1 was on private land, 1 on a designated trail;  5 involved alcohol.

-Both Class 2 fatalities involved a SxS hitting a car. A number likely to go up as the popularity of SxSs increases, and they are legal on virtually all roads but State and Federal Highways.

-Of Class 1 fatalities, 4 involved hitting a fixed object, 3 rollovers, 1 thrown from machine, 1 machine-to-machine collision. The youngest was 11; the oldest was 76.

-Six drivers were outside the age requiring an ATV safety certificate. Of the 5 that were required to have a certificate, just 1 did.

Lawrence also provided ATVAM with state maps showing "Number of Reported ATV Accidents (Including Fatalities) By County 2003-2019. The total was 4,560 ATV accidents for that period.

A second map shows "Number of Fatal ATV/OHM/ORV Accidents by County, From 2003-2019". The total of all OHV fatalities is 318 for that period; of that total, ATV accidents accounted for 301.  (Drag maps to your computer screen to save, view larger to show your club)

If you'd like the full report sent to your club, send an email to Dave Halsey, ATVAM Communications Director, at:  d.halsey@atvam.org