Lawmakers fear the state's new all-terrain vehicle regulations aredoing too little to lower West Virginia's ATV death toll and thattraining now mandatory for the youngest riders isn't reaching enoughpeople.
Despite new laws that took effect in 2004, West Virginia has seena record number of ATV deaths over each of the past two years.
The state Division of Motor Vehicles during that time has beenspearheading mandatory ATV training courses required for the youngestriders. The roughly one-hour course has participants watch a DVDabout safe riding, take a short quiz on what they learn and do aquick oral question and answer session.
Lawmakers have lamented the relatively low number of youngsterswho've so far participated in those courses.
By early January, training had been held in fewer than 20 of thestate's 765 schools, and little more than 5,400 of West Virginia's280,000 school children had been enrolled.
The DMV has relied a lot on community groups and fraternalorganizations to help provide the training in areas where ATVs aremost popular.
Sen. Mike Oliverio, D-Monogalia, and a handful of Senate Democratsnow are calling for the training to be available at various othervenues throughout the state, from public schools and hospitals to ATVsales centers and repair shops.
"We fought for years just to get the legislation in place, but weknew all along the legislation was just going to be the first dominoto fall," Oliverio said today. "With these comprehensive safetyprograms, everyone from the state DMV to hospitals and communitygroups to dealers and ATV manufacturers have to be involved. That hasnot occurred, and until it does, legislation on the books won't giveus a measurable improvement in these mortality statistics."
Oliverio touts a program at Charleston Area Medical Center thatinvolves a trauma nurse who goes out into the community and providesATV safety training.
The senators, including Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, plan to introduce aresolution calling for the state to study the new ATV law in light ofa record number of ATV-related deaths last year.
They're pushing for the Legislature's Joint Committee onGovernment and Finance to spend the next year looking at theregulations and finding ways to get more ATV riders up to speed onthe laws.
Senators said in their proposal they want to increase the numberof ATV-safety workshops and classes in the state's public schools andthat there might be a need for the state to impose additional ATVlaws during next year's legislative session.
Lawmakers spent more than a decade battling over proposedlegislation to regulate the ATV industry and its riders. Deaths inWest Virginia had been increasing gradually, with the death ratereaching 27 in 2003, the year before lawmakers finally agreed on newrules.
ATVs now are banned from most paved two-lane public roads, andriders younger than 18 years of age are required to wear helmets andtake state-approved safety classes.
Since those laws took effect in 2004, the number of ATV-relateddeaths and injuries has continued to increase.
In 2004, 32 people died in ATV accidents. Last year the death tollrose to 40, according to the most recent statistics available.
"The safety regulations of all-terrain vehicles has become anincreasing concern for the citizens of West Virginia," the proposalsays. "Community participation is vital to the development of all-terrain vehicle safety."
Karen Coria, a lobbyist for several ATV manufacturers, saidThursday many people, especially avid riders, don't understand thestate's new laws or their intent. She said her clients support theresolution and an intensive study of the laws as a necessary stepbefore regulations are reviewed or possibly tightened.
DMV officials also are set to speak soon before a Senate financecommittee to talk about new ways the state might fund expanded ATVtraining programs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact writer Kris Wise at kriswise@dailymail.com or 348-1244.
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