Kids on farms and ranches often learn to operate equipment at a young age, but injury statistics show that off-highway vehicles (OHVs), such as four-wheelers and side-by-sides, are among the most dangerous.

“While these vehicles are incredibly handy on the farm and ranch, their weight and power make them dangerous for youth operators,” says Angie Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension farm and ranch safety specialist.

Some off-highway vehicles can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and go more than 70 miles per hour.

From 2020 to 2025, the North Dakota Health and Human Services Trauma Registry showed 152 pediatric patients, with an average age of 11, were admitted with injuries related to off-road vehicles. Those numbers don’t reflect unreported injuries or those treated at local clinics. Nationwide, more than 40,000 children under age 16 are seriously injured on ATVs, according to Carma Hanson, coordinator for Safe Kids Grand Forks, a program with Altru Health System as its lead agency.

OHVs include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), in which the rider straddles the seat and steers with handlebars, and utility vehicles (UTVs, often called side-by-sides), in which the rider sits inside the vehicle and steers with a steering wheel. UTVs often have seating for passengers, while ATVs are typically designed to carry only the driver. Other off-road vehicles may include golf carts and go-karts.

Hanson notes that ATVs can be particularly dangerous for kids.

“Those vehicles are very prone to tipping,” says Hanson. “You have to know how to maneuver your body to adjust how the vehicle responds, and youth just don’t have the upper body strength to make those adjustments.”

Consequently, she adds, crushing injuries are commonly reported along with head injuries and broken bones.

“ATVs have zero safety mechanisms,” says Hanson. “Driving a car is probably safer because of its design.”

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Surgeons recommend that children under 16 not ride ATVs. Safety experts recommend that children under 12 should not operate ATVs with engines over 70 cc. Those under 16 should not operate an ATV larger than 90 cc.

Hanson recognizes that in a rural state like North Dakota, children operate these vehicles as they work on farms, as well as for fun, but their brains have not developed the cognitive ability to make the complex decisions required to operate a vehicle at high speed.

“Do I have enough time to pull out in front of that oncoming vehicle? Have I slowed down enough to make this corner? What’s required to navigate this intersection or this terrain safely? There’s a lot of complexity in those situations, and their brains are not equipped for that,” says Hanson.

Johnson said that in addition to size and strength of an operator, parents should also consider their emotional development, including focus, discipline, reasoning and decision-making ability.

“Just because your child is large enough to operate an OHV doesn’t mean they have the emotional maturity to do so safely,” says Johnson.

Del Peterson, a safety researcher with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU, says OHVs are not intended to be operated on paved surfaces.

“Their low tire pressure and tread design are designed specifically for off-road use, which can make them unpredictable on pavement,” says Peterson.

In fact, operating on paved roads is prohibited by North Dakota Century Code.

Hanson noted that OHVs are more maneuverable than cars and trucks, and that makes them unpredictable for other drivers on the road.

“If you compare the size of an OHV with a pickup, the pickup is always going to ‘win’ when those vehicles meet in a collision,” says Hanson.

Hanson and Johnson both recommend that youth operators take a safety certification class such as the one offered by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department: https://www.parkrec.nd.gov/business/recreation-programs/highway-vehicles-ohv/ohv-safety. An online option is available for this class.

In addition, NDSU Extension offers ATV certification in all of its Farm Safety Camp programs. The certification is required for youth aged 12-16 who do not have a valid driver’s license and are riding on public lands or ditches.

Johnson and Hanson offer some additional tips for making sure youthful operators stay safe:

• Gear up. A properly fitting helmet is essential and is required by law for operators under 18. Long pants, closed-toed shoes, a chest protector, safety glasses or goggles, and gloves help protect against potential hazards.
• Do not carry more passengers than the OHV was designed for. ATVs are designed to carry only the operator. That long seat is designed to allow the operator to shift their weight to better control the vehicle.
• Take one of the certification courses mentioned above. Read the operator’s manual, locate safety decals on the vehicle and follow their recommendations.
• Increase visibility. Use lights, reflectors and flags to make the vehicle more visible to other drivers.

More information on ATV safety from Safe Kids Grand Forks is available on their website under "Outdoor Recreation."

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Aug. 21, 2026

Source: Angie Johnson, 701-231-1873, angela.b.johnson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu