Every time Dr. Shannon Smith hears of a child being injured or killed in an ATV accident she’s more convinced that Mississippi needs a tougher ATV safety law.

That’s one of the reason’s Smith, a pediatric rehab physician at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has written letters and called members of the Mississippi Legislature to encourage tougher ATV safety laws.

Unfortunately, however, legislative efforts to toughen up state ATV laws died in the state House last week.

“We were trying to propose something that would make helmet use mandatory for children younger than 16, and would require a driver’s license or completion of an ATV safety course to ride an ATV,” explained Smith. “There were 205 deaths in Mississippi from 1999 to 2008 as a result of ATV crashes.”

According to Smith, 43 percent of those deaths were children and youth under age 22. She added that Mississippi’s pediatricians have been sounding the alarm about the dangers associated with children riding ATVs for years.

“Pediatricians, especially trauma specialists at UMMC Batson Children’s Hospital, see too many young lives cut short or forever handicapped by ATV crashes,” said Smith.

Many ATV crash victims die at the scene.

On Sunday, a 3-year-old boy died at the scene after the ATV he was riding on with an 18-year-old girl and two other children, flipped on its side on a road in the Hebron Community. Officials said the children, ranging in age from 3 to 11, were passengers on a four-wheel Arctic Cat Prowler driven by the 18-year-old.

The Prowler, manufactured by Arctic Cat Inc., is a two-seat ATV with a basket in the back.

“ATVs are not toys and should not be treated as such,” said Smith. “An overwhelming majority of those injured in ATV accidents are children.

“To be honest, ATVs are too big, too fast and too powerful for children anyway,” added Smith. “Protecting children should remain a top priority, which is why we also should look for ways to keep children off ATVs that are too big, too fast and too powerful.”

But with Spring Break just around the corner, Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge predicts that residents may see an increase in the number of teenagers operating ATVs throughout the county. More and more riders of these terrain vehicles are becoming injured or even killed when their ATV wrecks, which is why Hodge says it is important for teenagers to put in place safety operating procedures to prevent what could become a tragedy.

“Safety is especially important for teenagers who are interested in riding ATVs,” said Hodge. “We must keep in mind that ATVs are just as dangerous as cars, motorcycles, trucks, or sport utility vehicles, therefore teens should only operate them using the proper procedures. Riders must keep in mind that these vehicles have the capability to cause extreme injuries or death.”

A report from The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 16 should not operate an ATV. This is especially important, since younger children are usually injured on ATVs due to their size or inexperience with operating the vehicles.

“Even when a child becomes age 16, adult supervision should still be present at all times,” added Hodge.

Hodge offered the following safety tips when riding an ATV:

• Teens should always wear protective gear. Just like operating a motorcycle or bike, riding an ATV requires you use proper protective gear. ALWAYS wear a helmet. Ride ATVs in appropriate settings.

• When it comes to where to ride your ATV, ensure you choose a proper setting. Avoid roads and streets, since ATVs are not designed nor intended to be driven on concrete or asphalt with larger cars and trucks. Drivers of ATVs should also avoid improper terrain that may encourage the ATV to roll over due to instability in the ground.

• Drivers should be careful of traveling at a high rate of speed.

ATVs are designed to go a certain speed safely. Increasing the speed – especially through certain terrain – decreases your control and the vehicle’s stability, making you more prone to have an accident.

Hodge added that although ATVs have the capability to cause serious injuries, riding them can be a fun way to spend time in the great outdoors if the necessary safety measures are put in place.

“ATV courses are offered and encouraged by all of our local ATV dealers here in Jones County,” Hodge noted.

Smith pointed out that to further reduce ATV injuries and deaths, the state should consider a mandatory helmet law for all riders and increased public education on ATV safety. Smith also wants Mississippi to ban ATV use on public roads and prohibit additional passengers on ATVs not designed for multiple passengers.

ATV safety proposals have the support of many medical, safety and youth groups such as the state’s Trauma System, Child Death Review Panel, Mississippi Brain Injury Association, State Department of Health and 4-H.

“We know we can’t prevent every accident or save every child, but something has to be done,” said Smith.