(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conservation wardens and county recreation deputies will be out Labor Day weekend looking to enforce and educate those driving all-terrain and utility off-road vehicles of state safety laws as part of a Think Smart Before You Start campaign.
There have now been 27 fatal ATV/UTV crashes this year, many which involved drivers not wearing helmets or safety belts.
The most recent include a 12-year-old who died after an Aug. 9 rollover in Wyocena where the driver lost control on a turn and the UTV came to rest on the driver. A 70-year-old man died on Aug. 19 when his ATV struck a deer on a road and he was ejected from the ATV.
Those under 18 must wear a helmet on a UTV and all riders must wear a seatbelt.
“These campaigns have been an effective tool for us to work with our partners and address risky behaviors that lead to crashes,” Lt. Jake Holsclaw, Wisconsin DNR off-highway vehicle administrator, said in a statement. “Things like operating while intoxicated (OWI), speed and careless operation are always a focus for us. At the end of the day, our goal is to prevent fatalities and make our trail and route systems safer for all users.”
Officers will be looking for those operating while intoxicated, speeding or carelessly operating and both helmet and seatbelt use.
Alcohol and unsafe speeds have been a factor in the fatal accidents along with helmet and seatbelt use.
“This gear takes very little effort to wear but makes a huge difference in the event of a crash,” Holsclaw said.
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