24 The effect of passengers on all-terrain vehicle crash mechanisms and injuries

Statement of purpose Traditional all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are designed for one rider only. The study objective was to better understand the effect passengers have on the mechanisms and injuries seen in ATV crashes. Methods/approach A retrospective chart review and analysis was performed of trauma registry patients with ATV-related injuries at the University of Iowa from 2002–2013. Results 537 cases were included in the analysis of which 20% were passengers or drivers with passengers. Both children and females were more likely to be passengers (p Conclusions Passengers on ATVs may be at greater risk for fall/ejection to the rear which appears to increase the risk of head injury. ATV operators who self-eject receive extremity injuries but may be more able to protect their heads; passengers limit the ability of a driver to self-eject when losing vehicle control. Significance and contributions This study provides insight on how passengers on ATVs may contribute to crash likelihood and injury severity. A strict no rider rule could reduce risk of some ATV crashes.