Law enforcement to increase patrols for ATV motorists over holiday weekend
Web Producer: Taylor Avey, Janice Yu
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - The Arizona Game and Fish Department issues a safety reminder for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts this Labor Day weekend.
Officers will be looking for unsafe and reckless OHV drivers, according to Reuben M. Gonzales, public information officer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
"What we tend to see in the emergency departments statewide are the inexperienced riders that put two people on single-seat ATVs and those who don't use helmets," said Tomi St. Mars, chief of injury prevention with Arizona Department of Health Services.
According to the ADHS, there were 409 non-fatal, inpatient hospitalizations and 1,1611 non-fatal emergency room visits in 2011 from OHV injuries.
Fatalities from OHV incidents more than tripled from 2010 to 2011.
In addition, the number of registered ATVs and other OHV vehicles rose from 2010 to 2011.
"The increase in injuries and deaths is primarily a result of improper equipment use or negligence by riders," said Jimmy Simmons, OHV law enforcement program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "We want people to enjoy their OHV experience, but we will be ticketing those who choose to operate unsafely this weekend."
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