A simualtor to improve awarness of rollover risk and stimulate safer driving behavior among young all-terrain (ATV) drivers

In the US there are more than 10 million all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in use. Narrow wheelbase, high center of gravity and high speed driving make these vehicles unstable on steep and rough terrain, and, as a result, rollover is the most common accident. ATVs are mostly a recreational vehicle, but they have become a working and transportation vehicle on many US farms where they are so popular that youth are more likely to operate an ATV than a tractor. Statistics show high rates of injuries and death in agriculture, with a high incidence of youths injured. The objective of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of an ATV stability simulator to increase the risk awareness of rollover and stimulate safer driving behavior with young drivers. The ATV stability simulator is a platform where a commercial model of ATV is firmly fixed and can be laterally tilted under the control of an instructor. People visiting the Penn State Rural Health and Safety Extension exhibit area at the 2012 Agricultural Progress Days were asked to ride the ATV stability simulator and to complete a brief questionnaire. Thirty-seven individuals (4 females) from 12 to 19 years old rode the simulator. Ten people did not have any previous experience in riding any ATV. Fourteen people had less than 2 years experience while 14 had more than 2 years of ATV riding experience. Seventeen participants rode ATVs weekly while 10 were less frequent users. Seventeen people used ATVs for recreation purposes, 5 for agricultural tasks (mainly transportation), and 5 for both usages. Nearly 30% (8) of the participants having ATV riding experience had a rollover, while 27 of the respondents reported that they knew someone injured or that had died in an ATV accident. Nearly all the participants (35 out of 37) affirmed that the experience on the simulator helped them to better understand better ATVs stability and likely helped to observe more closely in the future the conditions that can affect the ATV stability. Participants judged the simulator to be an effective tool in training riders, particularly beginning riders, to safely operate ATVs.