Photo credit: North Dakota State University.
Children on farms and ranches often learn to operate equipment at a young age, but off-highway vehicles, including four-wheelers and side-by-sides, can pose serious risks to young operators.
Some off-highway vehicles weigh more than 1,000 pounds and can reach speeds of more than 70 mph. From 2020 to 2025, the North Dakota Health and Human Services Trauma Registry recorded 152 pediatric patients, with an average age of 11, admitted with injuries related to off-road vehicles. The figures do not include unreported injuries or those treated at local clinics.
Nationwide, more than 40,000 children younger than 16 are seriously injured on all-terrain vehicles each year, according to Carma Hanson, coordinator for Safe Kids Grand Forks, a program with Altru Health System as its lead agency.
Off-highway vehicles include all-terrain vehicles, in which the rider straddles the seat and steers with handlebars, and utility vehicles, often called side-by-sides, in which the rider sits inside the vehicle and steers with a steering wheel. UTVs often have passenger seating, while ATVs are generally designed to carry only the operator. Other off-road vehicles can include golf carts and go-karts.
ATVs can be particularly dangerous for children because they are prone to tipping and require riders to shift their bodies to help control the vehicle. Young operators may not have the upper body strength needed to make those adjustments.
Crushing injuries, head injuries and broken bones are among the injuries commonly associated with ATV crashes. Unlike passenger vehicles, ATVs have few safety mechanisms to protect riders.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Surgeons recommend that children younger than 16 not ride ATVs. Safety experts also recommend that children younger than 12 not operate ATVs with engines larger than 70 cc and that those younger than 16 not operate ATVs larger than 90 cc.
Age and physical size are not the only factors parents should consider. Emotional development, including focus, discipline, reasoning and decision-making ability, also plays an important role in determining whether a young person is ready to operate an OHV.
Young operators may lack the cognitive development needed to make complex decisions quickly while traveling at high speeds. Rural youth may use OHVs for farm work as well as recreation, increasing the importance of evaluating whether they are prepared to operate the vehicles safely.
OHVs also present risks when operated on paved surfaces. Their low tire pressure and tread designs are intended for off-road use and can make the vehicles unpredictable on pavement. North Dakota law prohibits operating OHVs on paved roads.
OHVs are more maneuverable and smaller than cars and trucks, which can make them difficult for other motorists to anticipate. In a collision between an OHV and a pickup, the OHV and its operator face substantially greater risk of injury.
Safety specialists recommend that young OHV operators complete a safety certification course, such as the program offered by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. An online option is available. NDSU Extension also offers ATV certification through its Farm Safety Camp programs. Certification is required for youth ages 12 to 16 who do not have a valid driver's license and ride on public lands or ditches.
Parents and young operators should also follow several basic safety practices.
A properly fitting helmet is essential and is required by law for operators younger than 18. Long pants, closed-toe shoes, a chest protector, safety glasses or goggles and gloves can provide additional protection.
Operators should never carry more passengers than an OHV is designed to accommodate. ATVs are designed for one operator, and the long seat allows the rider to shift weight to help control the vehicle.
Young operators should read the vehicle's operator's manual, locate and follow safety decals and complete an approved certification course. Lights, reflectors and flags can also increase an OHV's visibility to other drivers.
For farm and ranch families, evaluating a young person's physical and emotional readiness before allowing them to operate an OHV can help reduce the risk of serious injury.
Source: North Dakota State University, "Injury stats should urge caution for youth operators of off-highway vehicles"