ATV safety bill approved

On Wednesday, the Senate Transportation committee approved an all terrain vehicle safety bill after a morning vote at the Capitol.

The bill would ban ATVs from any paved roads and only allowing right angle turns across roads and highways in West Virginia. The bill also states that unless the ATV is designed to carry passengers it will prohibit passengers on ATVs.

ATV safety was talked about for months by lawmakers last year; however, the bill does not change any rules that let ATVs be used by natural gas employees or for farm use.

Transportation committee chairman, John Unger, said Wednesday's vote is just the first step in what could be a long road for the bill.

"Some members represent an area that's more rural where these vehicles are on the roads and being utilized by a lot of people, where in other areas that are more urban are people who want to ban them," he said.

There were 54 ATV deaths in the state last year and 28 of them happened on paved roads. These numbers are the highest recorded ever and the 2004 ATV safety law was thought to have taken care of deaths on ATVs.

The law set in 2004 requires

riders under the age of 18 to wear helmets and prevent from carrying passengers, for adults to keep passengers to a minimum, and for ATVs to stay off roads with center lines.

ATV safety awareness Coordinator Mark Holmes said plans are to use the State Police accident form for all ATV wrecks, and the state doesn't compile information regarding circumstances from ATV accidents.

"This will create a database and we'll get a more detailed data set for ATV crashes," Holmes said.

The new bill will also make way for an ATV incident form that would be used when a crash occurs. The state at this time doesn't have a proper incident form. However, people supporting the form said it would provide valuable information as to what can be done safety wise.

Also along with the laws and regulations set this bill will allow for each county to be able to adopt their own ATV regulations as to which roads this vehicles should be suitable for. Currently the law states only counties with detailed land use adopt such plans.

The bill will next go to the Senate Judiciary Committee for discussion.

Will Selbee can be contacted at selbeejr@marshall.edu.