LeRoi Moore ATV Death Should be a Wake-up Call for Parents

LeRoi Moore, saxaphonist for the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday due to complications from an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident he had on his Virginia farm in late June.  He was 46 years old.

In my kids'-health column, Health Notes, I've been warning parents about the dangers of ATVs for years. More than 500 people reportedly died in 2006 (the most recent stats available), and at least 100 of those were kids, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The CPSC believes at least 146,000 other people were treated that year for ATV-related injuries.

Three moms, Carolyn Anderson, Sue Rabe and Carol Keezer, lost children in ATV-related accidents and founded Concerned Families for ATV Safety. They claim that more than 40,000 families each year have a child who is injured or killed in one of these incidents. It's heartbreaking to look at the photos of kids who have died in these accidents.

Check out these ATV safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Children who are not licensed to drive a car should not be allowed to operate off-road vehicles.
• Because their nervous systems and judgment have not fully developed, off-road vehicles are particularly dangerous for children younger than 16 years.
• Don't ride double. Passengers are frequently injured when riding ATVs.
• All riders should wear helmets, eye protection and protective, reflective clothing. Appropriate helmets are those designed for motorcycle (not bicycle) use, and should include safety visors/face shields for eye protection.
• ATVs lack the common safety equipment found on all cars and trucks that are designed for street use. Parents should never permit nighttime riding or street use of off-road vehicles.
• Flags, reflectors and lights should be used to make vehicles more visible.
• Drivers of recreational vehicles should not drive while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or even some prescription medicines. Parents should set an example for their children in this regard.
• Young drivers should be discouraged from on-road riding of any 2-wheeled motorized cycle, even when they are able to be licensed to do so, because they are inherently more dangerous than passenger cars.