Repeated ATV Traffic Accidents in Rural Areas
Fatality Rate 7.7 Times Higher Than General Accidents
Urgent Need for Related Measures Including Free Helmet Distribution
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] A warning has been issued regarding all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use during the Chuseok holiday return travel period. This comes as fatal accidents involving ATVs have been occurring repeatedly in rural and fishing villages, with the fatality rate exceeding seven times that of overall traffic accident fatality rates.
According to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority on the 24th, the fatality rate from traffic accidents involving ATVs over the past three years from 2017 to last year was found to be 13.13%. The fatality rate refers to the number of deaths per 100 accidents. This is 7.7 times higher than the overall domestic traffic accident fatality rate of 1.71%. In particular, this fatality rate is five times higher than that of two-wheeled vehicles (2.62%), which are known to have a high fatality rate.
During this period, there were 1,005 traffic accidents involving ATVs, resulting in 132 deaths. This means that one ATV accident occurred daily, with one death per week on average.
The Authority cited that the reason for the higher fatality rate of ATVs compared to other means of transportation is that elderly drivers mainly use them in rural and fishing areas. Experts believe that accidents are increasing as elderly drivers with reduced cognitive and reaction abilities often ride without wearing helmets.
This is clearly reflected in the analysis by accident region and age group. Looking at the accident status by administrative district, 59 deaths occurred in city/province areas, while 73 deaths occurred in county areas, with more than half of the deaths happening in county regions. The proportion of deaths among elderly people aged 65 and over accounted for 86.4% (114 people) of the total.
Another characteristic of ATVs is the high proportion of single-vehicle accidents (74.2%) such as rollovers, collisions with structures, and road departures compared to other vehicle types. The main injury site among fatalities was the head (37.0%). The Authority explained, "Since most ATV fatalities involve elderly drivers and the fatality rate is high due to not wearing helmets, activities such as free helmet distribution and helmet-wearing campaigns should be carried out."
In particular, it is known that many people in rural and fishing areas operate ATVs without a driver's license. In cases of unlicensed driving, health insurance benefits cannot be received if an accident occurs. The Authority emphasized, "Safe driving is necessary when traveling on narrow roads such as downhill slopes and farm roads," and added, "You must obtain a driver's license that allows you to operate an ATV and drive accordingly."
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