title: Characteristics of three- and four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle accidents in Quebec.
abstract: During a seven-month survey from May to November 1985, 624 victims injured from three- or four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were observed in the emergency rooms of 10 regional hospitals in Quebec. A total of 1,100 injuries were identified, including 3 fatal and 104 serious to critical injuries (AIS greater than or equal to 3). These injuries were to the lower limb (29%), the upper limb (28%), the head, neck, and face (26%), and the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis (18%). Close to one-half (45%) of the victims were 19 years old and less; 54% reported wearing helmets. Ten percent of the victims were hospitalized for an average period of 8 days. In 70% of the cases, the vehicle overturned: half of these vehicles turned on the side, 27% toward the back, and 19% flipped forward. Two-thirds of persons injured were involved in accidents in which no external objects were hit by the vehicle; these accidents typically involved vehicle overturns, both on hills and on level ground. Ninety-five percent of the vehicles were in good mechanical condition. The use of these vehicles presents a danger whether used by a child or an adult, by an experienced or an inexperienced rider. The average user may not be aware that three- and four-wheel ATVs demand considerable skill and caution. We suggest the use of accident reconstruction studies for possible engineering solutions.
authors.affiliation: Community Health Department, Hôtel-Dieu de St-Jérôme, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeLisle
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laberge-Nadeau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D011792:Quebec; D011998:Recreation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control