Kentucky consistently ranks within the top six states for ATV related death in the nation. The 4-H ATV Safety project is a tool that Cooperative Extension employees, volunteers and cooperating partners can use to educate youth of the risks associated with ATV use and provide them with the skills and knowledge to prevent ATV accidents and unsafe driving habits.

Kentucky 4-H believes that all youth should have opportunities for positive youth development in our four guiding concepts:  mastery, belonging, independence, and generosity.  This project fosters mastery by increasing awareness of ATV safety gear, pre-ride checks, fit guidelines,

and skills for using ATVs; Belonging by encouraging youth to work together with other youth and adults to develop safe and environmentally friendly riding practices; Independence by teaching the skills necessary to determine correct ATV sizing choices and the understanding of safe riding practices; and Generosity by promoting the reduction and prevention of ATV related injury and mortality.

ATV Safety Workgroup

Danielle Hagler served on the 4-H ATV Safety Work Group from 2016-2017.  As a part of this work group she worked with Sate Cooperative Extension Specialist to review available ATV safety materials and to determine what materials would be included in the Kentucky 4-H Core Curriculum.  The group also set goals to provide educational opportunities for Agents, volunteers and youth to learn how to best utilize the selected Curriculum.  Ten volunteers and Agents attended the October 2017 ATV Leader Training.  Participants indicated and increased knowledge of ATV safety including sizing, safety equipment and safe riding techniques. 88% of participants indicated in a post conference evaluation that their knowledge of ATV safety increased as a result of the workshop

Professional Development Offerings

At the April 2017 Kentucky Association for 4-H Extension Agents, Nelson County Cooperative Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development presented a workshop on how to host an ATV safety skill-a-thon. Eight Cooperative Extension Agents for 4-H Youth development attended the training and received hands-on education introducing them to the 4-H ATV safety curriculum and other resources that they could utilize in their home county to teach ATV safety.   After attending the workshop, the Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development in Hancock County trained two 4-H teens on the lessons. They utilized the  lessons at a Progressive agriculture Safety day reaching 269 youth.  The agent went on to teach the lessons to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders through classroom enrichment, reaching an additional 215 youth.

Teen Conference Workshop

As a part of the 2017 Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference 14 youth participated in six hours of education on ATV safety utilizing the 4-H ATV Safety Curriculum. Youth ranged in age from 14-18 years old. All but one participant had driven an ATV before the workshop. Three began riding ATV’s under the age of 6, six began riding at age 6-11, and four began riding ATV’s at ages 12-15. Ten participants indicated that they rated their ATV driving skills as good, one as beginner, one as fair, and one as expert. Only one participant had taken part in an ATV safety course before the workshop. 

All but one of the participants indicated that they had been a passenger on an ATV with six of them indicating that they had been a passenger over 21 times.  Six participants indicated that they never or almost never wore a helmet, with only four indicating that they always wore a helmet. Four participants had been in an ATV crash prior to the workshop, with eleven indicating that they knew someone who had been injured as a result of an ATV accident. Four knew someone who had died as a result of an ATV accident.

Because of the workshop, all participants showed an increase in knowledge of ATV Safety. They were able to demonstrate this increase in knowledge through a culminating service project. In the culminating activity, the youth participants worked in teams to write and star in ATV Safety Public Service Announcement Videos that were filmed and edited by a 4-Her and uploaded to the internet for viewing.  

One participant even indicated that he had reluctantly signed up for the workshop. He was going to purchase an ATV, and his dad wanted him to take a safety course first. After completing the workshop, in order to be a safe driver of an ATV, he felt that he needed to have additional training that included riding lessons before purchasing an ATV.