8 year old crashes ATV

[motley man]

What is in the minds of 2 adults letting a 8 year old drive a atv with passengers! I hope that they get a big fine. Let's get real folks, big machines are not for kids. There are way to many accidents with kids driving.

[Dave S]

What is in the minds of 2 adults letting a 8 year old drive a atv with passengers! I hope that they get a big fine. Let's get real folks, big machines are not for kids. There are way to many accidents with kids driving.

Some people just don't think. Kids don't have the experience to be able to judge their skill. When the parents fail to do the same, bad things will happen.

I drive by a place at least twice a week that has kids riding 2-up on a full size machine around in their yard. The bad thing is their yard is bordered by a railroad. Guess where their path goes?

[BobT]

I thought it was illegal for 8-year olds to operate an ATV alone.

[spearchucker]

I thought it was illegal for 8-year olds to operate an ATV alone.

It is.

[motley man]

The adults were with the 8 year old on the vehicle. Hope they made them blow the tube or blood tests for booze.

[Dock Boy]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I know all parties involved personally. Yes 8 is a little young to be driving an atv and illegal. Folks grow up around here on atv's and snowmobiles. We live in an area where kids drive snowmobiles and atv's to school. A lot different then big city life. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in our area would know this. Kids grow up riding. Summer is spent on atv and winter is spent driving snowmobiles. It's an unfortunate accident, but please don't pass judgement. Some kids grow up going to school in a BMW others drive a snowmobile while dad drives a logging truck. Get well soon Mark and Austin!!

[Dave S]

Dock Boy,

I can understand your compassion and reasoning with people growing up driving recreational vehicles. I did the same but that was 40 years ago and the laws are different now.....and for good reason.

This was a very bad result of poor decision making. Just like driving a car, there are laws to know and understand prior to owning a motorized vehicle. It's part of being a responsible adult. I'm sure there's many here who do the same and hopefully they come to their senses but it will never happen.

People will continue to allow their kids to drive ATVs illegally as will people continue to drive drunk and indulge in other illegal substances regardless of the laws. They need to understand and accept the consequences when something bad happens.

I'm not trying to pass any judgement. There's one person I feel sorry for here and that would be the 8 year old as he more than likely believed his parents were making the right decision at the time.

[TruthWalleyes]

I was driving 4 wheeler at 8yrs and earlier. My dad, being a farmer, always told me that if i got hurt or killed, he would potentially have to give up anything or everything on the entire farm as he would be charged with manslaughter. The loss of assets would be to cover injury. It is very serious when injuries or death occurs on an ATV with children. Why did he allow me to drive the 4-wheeler...I'm sure i begged and begged every day and i was probably ready for it. (He knew the concequences, set speed limits, and i constantly broke them, got grounded, and did it again...kids will be kids) My daughter is 7, and i didn't let her ride a small dirt bike this summer. She thought she was ready, but i know better. The time will come soon though.

Off topic, but growing up on a farm, there are a lot more dangers than riding a forewheeler. Yes, that is an obvious injury waiting to happen. Same can be said for all the equipment, augers, gears, ladders, heights, etc, etc that are continuous hazards on the farm place. I couldn't list all the potential safety hazards i got myself into on the farm as a kid in a 100 page book!

I understand the accident, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I've rolled a forewheeler numberous times, just been lucky enough to get up from those accidents.

Those of you demanding drug and alcohol tests: We're not talking about daycare in the suburbs here Ya'll never got out and got adventerous as kids!

[rundrave]

It's an unfortunate accident, but please don't pass judgement.

You are right it is unfortunate and my thoughts to those that were injured.

However the lack of judgment is what is ruining this sport. It’s illegal period no questions asked and no exceptions should be made.

ATVs have been under so much scrutiny by both the media and the non-riding groups. These stories just give them more ammo to use against the sport.

I don’t agree with a lot of the regulations and laws regarding ATV's but that doesn’t mean I should choose not to follow them. It’s the same thing over and over, a few people ruining the sport for the rest of us.

[4wheelingmama]

My kids ride a 170 rzr and a 50cc predetor. They are ages 6,7 and 8. They are only allowed to ride on our property and we watch them. I believe that if they are riding responsibly and we as parents are watching out for them as well, I see no harm in it. My biggest problem is when parents let their children ride atv's that are way to big. I wish there was a law for atv's that would state you would have to be of a certn age to ride ?? cc's. (ie 6-8 yrs 50-90cc) My kids can drive better then some adults I know.

[Powerstroke]

I realize that kids growing up out in the sticks start riding alot earlier than most people that doesn't make them any smarter or stronger to handle a full size machine. No kid is ever going to turn down the chance to drive the big wheeler. It is the parent's job to limit a kid to the machine that they can handle, no matter how much experience they have.

[milkingman]

I realize that kids growing up out in the sticks start riding alot earlier than most people that doesn't make them any smarter or stronger to handle a full size machine. No kid is ever going to turn down the chance to drive the big wheeler. It is the parent's job to limit a kid to the machine that they can handle, no matter how much experience they have.

[Dave S]

I wish there was a law for atv's that would state you would have to be of a certn age to ride ?? cc's.

Although it's not broad enough, there is a law that states that noone under the age of 12 may operate a machine over 90cc on public trails or waterways. Doesn't mean it won't happen on private property.

[4wheelingmama]

I understand that law, but one that would allow children to start riding sooner. To build up riding experiences on smaller machines. That way when they are old enough to drive a full sized machine they can handle it. And if some sort of law was put in to place, there might be alot more parents/grandparents that would puchase a smaller machine for the kids, insead of just saying here ya go, ride mine. We want to take our kids with us when we go on trips and the older two are now wanting to drive. And I think they could handle it on their atv's, but the law will not let us.

[upnorth]

Kids at 7, 8 years old can learn to navigate roads, trails etc on a bicycle. Too many things going on at one time on an ATV and even more that can happen for a kid that age to really learn to process properly. I know there are those that are going to disagree, but that is more that likely why the law is written the way it is. There may be a few kids out there that can handle that and all the things that can come about, but I don't think that applies to very many at all.

[Big Dave2]

ATVs are fine for some kids as long as they are on the right sized ATV. CCs matter even less than the fit of the machine to the kid. I don't know what size machine this 8yr old was on but if it was a full size machine, that is where the mistake came in.

My son is 11 and has been riding 4-wheelers since he was 5 and not to say that he hasn't gotten on my full size 400 and rode it across the yard out in the country or steered the machine with me behind him but there is no way that even a kid the size of mine should be allowed to operate a full size machine by himself. Too hard for him to steer, too hard too brake. The only thing that is easy for a kid to do on a full size machine is throttle.

[Tyler23]

im with motley man. i grew up on snowmobiles and 4wheelers and been riding full size machines size around 7yrs old but where i rode and live is a whole different story compared to other people. i think your enviroment has alot to do with the potential to cause a accident. but this should be on the parents shoulders im personally not a fan of the age limits given for atv's i think it should be up to the parents to decide. but sad enough someone will ruin it for everyone else just like this situation my prayers go out to the injured people in this accident

[motley man]

The idea is to think ahead as to what can happen in just a second and change a entire life.

[BobT]

im with motley man. i grew up on snowmobiles and 4wheelers and been riding full size machines size around 7yrs old but where i rode and live is a whole different story compared to other people. i think your enviroment has alot to do with the potential to cause a accident. but this should be on the parents shoulders im personally not a fan of the age limits given for atv's i think it should be up to the parents to decide. but sad enough someone will ruin it for everyone else just like this situation my prayers go out to the injured people in this accident

I understand your point and for the most part agree but I have to throw in an argument. Parents don't always use good common sense either. Consider my neighbors with their farm equipment. Something so simple as to drive the tractor for the baler seems harmless enough until you really give it some thought. Steering is the easy part. Tractors are usually using a throttle that is not foot controlled but lever controlled so when you move the lever to throttle up and then let go the engine rpm remains high. You have to manually pull the throttle back down to idle rpm. So if something happens they must be able to act quickly and under control. That’s problem #1.

Problem #2:

In most cases the clutch and brake controls are not designed for small operators and so most of the time (not always) they are difficult to operate by children.

Problem #3:

In addition to being able to steer, manually control throttle, start, and stop they also might have to manage hydraulics, PTO drives, and at the same time be aware of other things around them such as other people on equipment behind them in the case of baling.

Problem #4:

Children don’t have the maturity to act under duress or in an emergency that an adult usually should have. Obviously there are some adults that lack this capacity as well but your odds are far better with adults than with children. I know that when I walk a hay rack I want someone on the tractor that I can trust is paying attention enough that if I should fall off the front of the rack they could react and stop the machine before it kills me instead of realizing the accident happened when they turn around at the end of the windrow.

An ATV is a machine. The operator not only has to be able to steer and operate a throttle but must also have the mental capacity to know how to stop in an emergency with a cool head, know the limits of the machine and himself, and have the sense to understand the dangers that go along with operating the machine. It’s bad enough getting adults to understand this much less carefree kids with zero life experiences to fall back on. Having done it does not make it safe.

[TruthWalleyes]

BobT, why don't you just start a list of potential injuries and accidents people can have, give that list to the government so they can MOMMY us some more with new bright laws to keep us safe....

Like, you might fall off the dock and drown....New law: Lifejackets must be worn while on docks. Give Me A Break!

Darwinism will live on, no matter how hard the government tries to outlaw any possible injury of accident. Let nature take its course. Society may be better off after all... There are concequences for not using your head! "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

[Dave S]

No need to be jumping all over BobT here. His post was well phrased and is the exact reasoning behind there being laws against kids riding full sized machines here in MN. Your comment about government trying to "MOMMY" us is what happens when irresponsible parents make bad decisions that negatively affect their kids. People do it to themselves.

[BobT]

BobT, why don't you just start a list of potential injuries and accidents people can have, give that list to the government so they can MOMMY us some more with new bright laws to keep us safe....

Like, you might fall off the dock and drown....New law: Lifejackets must be worn while on docks. Give Me A Break!

Darwinism will live on, no matter how hard the government tries to outlaw any possible injury of accident. Let nature take its course. Society may be better off after all... There are concequences for not using your head! "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

I guess you're right. We should eliminate speed laws, firearms safety training, PFD's, drinking age laws, drivers license, etc. If your kid drowns because he chose not to wear his PFD, gets shot by a buddy because they were hunting without any training, or kills somebody or himself/herself because they were drunk and driving the car at the age of 10 who cares? Nature took its course.

But we've learned that some things must be regulated because too many parents don't have half the brains they were born with.

[Big Dave2]

BobT, why don't you just start a list of potential injuries and accidents people can have, give that list to the government so they can MOMMY us some more with new bright laws to keep us safe....

Like, you might fall off the dock and drown....New law: Lifejackets must be worn while on docks. Give Me A Break!

Darwinism will live on, no matter how hard the government tries to outlaw any possible injury of accident. Let nature take its course. Society may be better off after all... There are concequences for not using your head! "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

Bob didn't say 1 thing about government and laws, you brought that up yourself.

[upnorth]

There are laws based on keeping the public safe. There is no way the vast majority of 8 year old kids could handle a situation where things go bad. If everything is perfect and nothing goes wrong the kid will probably be fine, it is when the situation goes sour that their ability to evaluate and react properly will be in question.

[BobT]

There are laws based on keeping the public safe. There is no way the vast majority of 8 year old kids could handle a situation where things go bad. If everything is perfect and nothing goes wrong the kid will probably be fine, it is when the situation goes sour that their ability to evaluate and react properly will be in question.

Not to mention the strength, weight, and physical size needed to do so. At eight years old don't parents have a responsibility to make rash and sound judgments about what is safe? There is nothing safe about letting an eight year old operate an ATV, especially alone.