at least in Wi

https://www.wbay.com/2021/05/17/12-...21-twice-the-number-this-time-last-year/

I wish the state would go back to leaning on in-person safety courses. They don't plan to do so anytime soon though, because of Covid.

More and more townships are opening up roads to atvs, and that could be a contributor to the rise in deaths. There was a wreck in my area tonight. Be careful out there guys.

DNR is encouraging the online safety course. Does anyone know if the online course is very worthwhile?

If it's anything like Iowa, it's more UTV's on the road cruising and drinking. Think they own the road.

And too many don't wear seat belts on those utv's.

Drinking and riding is a terrible combination.

The Black Hills will be swarming with them this weekend a steady stream heading West today on I-90 if you don't own one lots of places to rent one!

Sales of them are booming, Iots of new users and they only seem to keep making them faster and faster.

I thought ATVs were bad years ago buy UTVs brought it to a whole nother level. I think they give a false sense of security.

And the dumbo's aren't wearing helmets

I don't think in person training courses would reduce accidents. Accidents in my area are caused by speed and alcohol. Training wouldn't make a difference.

Most of the dirt township roads around my camp are open to ATVs. I started to see an influx of them yesterday, folks coming to camp for the memorial day weekend and bringing their toys with them. They blast by at crazy speeds for the most part. I’m surprised there aren’t more injuries and deaths.

I have a small one, has 4wd. I haul it on a small trailer for trapping when it gets muddy. Wont rut everything up. I much prefer my pickup but I cant walk like I used to. Went with a buddy a few years ago on a UTV. We didnt go anyplace a pickup cant go. I like being comfortable

Like with any tool that becomes a toy, people will do dumb things. Booze makes it worse.

More people owning and driving UTV's one would expect accidents to go up. Wait for it though more stupid regulations restricting rights and choices from our government coming. If I choose to wear a seat belt it should be my choice, same as wearing a helmet on my cycle or UTV/TV.

CO out in the Black Hills say UTVs take up the majority of his job now it’s one thing or another with them, streetable here with a few changes even the highways are legal.

Is definitely not what is was 20 years ago.. Was just out last Wednesday did 50 miles on Jackson county trail.. When trails were first opened was a simple two track threw woods two ATVs could just pass. Was size restrictions on machines and some places had to move over wait let oncoming go by... Of course there were people couldn't stay on trail wanted to drive in tear up everything..Always got some them still do..Lots trails if it rained you best have winch or not go..
Now that same trail we were on Wednesday is pretty much a two lane gravel road.. We had to detour one spot because was a dozer in there and they were adding gravel. So that little stretch will be just another forest road I'm sure when their done..Heck I drove my 2000 ford focus station wagon on worse roads than most the trails are now.. But they want to make it all inclusive family friendly thing and dealers want to sell all them fancy machines.. Now the trail is lets see how fast we can run from point A to point B..Even we go faster now than we used to be able to. We try to cruse at maybe 20 mph tops. We regularly have machines fly by pass us like standing still.
Is just another one them things that when they add more people. make it all inclusive. Changes things for the one that used to use trails to look at nature enjoy the woods.
Of course with new machines, bigger faster, more of them. People going wreck them selves drive like idiots. Been the same with boats, snowmobiles. jet-ski's, what ever the new have to have go fast item is.. Bigger Badder Faster.. Going kill a few bone heads or innocents ones they run over.


Mac

The on the road laws are ridiculous

That bothers me. When my kids were little neighbor boy got a trans am. Loud pipes big tires. Would drive by here like it was race day at Talladega. I told him several times to slow down around my young children. No avail. So I leaned a 4x4 post up against a big elm tree in the front yard. He came in a roaring and I tossed that 4x4 out in front of him. Car bounced and made some cool noises while he was shutting it down. That 4x4 worked pretty good to slow him down around my house.

Why do we need more rules and laws? Are these classes free? They should be if they make us do it.

Alcohol and the way they trick them out isn’t helping. They’ll raise them higher than a jacked up truck to rock climb or get through mud holes, one wrong turn speeding on a dirt road and they go to rolling.

It's required if a person was born after a certain age S&R. Their is a fee. The in person course is cheaper, but they are only offering the online version right now due to Covid.

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/Education/OutdoorSkills/safetyEducation

I haven't been on one in years, but from what I can tell.....these new ones are dangerous by design, as they only have two speeds. Dead stop and wide open. Or perhaps that is the way they are used?

Daughter of a relative was passenger on a late night run.......was a lot of fun until they rolled it. She got a helicopter ride to an ICU bed where she was laid up for a week. Lucky to be alive.....may never have a normal life again.....brain damage similar to a stroke.

Made no impression at all on others......still going just as fast. Cutting donuts......tearing them up. A lot of fun....until it's you laid up in the ICU.