The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges ATV and UTV operators to prioritize safety on the trails. Operators should wear helmets and seatbelts, stay sober, and adhere to posted regulatory signs.
So far this year, 27 people have died in ATV/UTV accidents, with ages ranging from 4 to 79. Five of these fatalities occurred in the past two weeks.
To reduce crash risk, operators and passengers must follow basic off-road vehicle safety rules. This includes riding sober, wearing helmets on ATVs and UTVs, and seatbelts on UTVs.
This year, at least 18 of the deceased ATV/UTV riders were not wearing helmets, and more than half of UTV victims lacked seatbelts.
Wisconsin law mandates that anyone under 18 wear a helmet on an ATV or UTV, whether driving or as a passenger. All UTV passengers, regardless of age, must wear seatbelts.
Operators must also obey regulatory signs, including stop signs and speed limits, and adhere to vehicle occupancy rules. Over half of this year’s fatal crashes occurred on roadways, including public roads closed to ATV/UTV traffic. Many of these incidents involved exceeding vehicle occupancy limits.
From September 6-8, DNR conservation wardens and local law enforcement will increase their presence on trails and routes statewide. This is part of the Think Smart Before You Start campaign aimed at enhancing safety.
Operators are encouraged to take an online safety course. A list of approved safety education classes is available on the DNR’s Safety Education webpage.
Wisconsin law requires operators involved in a crash to report it immediately to law enforcement. They must also submit a written report to the DNR within 10 days.
For more information on ATV and UTV recreation in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s ATV/UTV Riding in Wisconsin webpage.
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