An Analysis of ATV and UTV-Related Injuries Pre- and Post-Enactment of West Virginia Senate Bill 690

TL;DR

A study in West Virginia found a 24% increase in ATV and UTV-related injuries after a law allowed these vehicles on public roads in 2020.

Contribution

This study provides empirical evidence linking the enactment of Senate Bill 690 to a rise in trauma admissions for ATV and UTV injuries.

Findings

Trauma admissions for ATV/UTV injuries increased by 14% after the law's enactment.

After adjusting for demographics and socioeconomic factors, the injury rate rose by 24%.

West Virginia already had the highest ATV-related fatality rate in the U.S. prior to the law.

Abstract

All-terrain vehicles and utility task vehicles are associated with a high incidence of injuries, particularly in West Virginia, which has the highest all-terrain vehicle-related fatality rate in the U.S. In 2020, the enactment of the West Virginia Senate Bill 690 allowed all-terrain vehicles and utility task vehicles on public roads, raising concerns about potential increases in injury rates. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Senate Bill 690 on trauma admissions related to all-terrain vehicle and utility task vehicle injuries at a Level I trauma center in West Virginia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted, analyzing trauma admissions from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2023. Data were sourced from medical records and external databases, including population estimates, unemployment rates, and gasoline prices. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the relationship between the number of trauma admissions and the enactment of the law, adjusting for multiple confounding factors.

A total of 1,318 individuals were treated for all-terrain vehicle or utility task vehicle injuries. After the law's enactment, injury rates increased by 14% (incidence rate ratio =1.14, 95% CI= 1.01,1.29) for the overall population and by 24% (incidence rate ratio=1.24, 95% CI=1.03, 1.48) after adjusting for patient demographics and socioeconomic variables.

The rate of all-terrain vehicle and utility task vehicle-related trauma admissions significantly increased after the passage of Senate Bill 690 in West Virginia. Given that all-terrain vehicle and utility task vehicle injuries are already disproportionately high in West Virginia compared to other states, these findings may suggest additional intervention or policy changes are needed to limit morbidity and mortality associated with these types of injuries.

•West Virginia has the highest all-terrain vehicle injury rate in the nation.•Senate Bill 690 was passed in March 2020 allowing all-terrain vehicles on public roads.•This study investigated the injury rates before and after Senate Bill 690’s passage.•The injury rate increased 24% after adjusting for patient demographics and socioeconomic variables.

West Virginia has the highest all-terrain vehicle injury rate in the nation.

Senate Bill 690 was passed in March 2020 allowing all-terrain vehicles on public roads.

This study investigated the injury rates before and after Senate Bill 690’s passage.

The injury rate increased 24% after adjusting for patient demographics and socioeconomic variables.