ABSTRACT

Purpose: Recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) have become increasingly popular, but no studies have examined the safety issues and experiences of rural teens while operating ROVs.

Methods: Attendees of the 2015 and 2016 Iowa FFA Leadership Conference were surveyed on ROV use frequency, the safety behaviors practiced, and the crashes and injuries experienced. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed.

Results/Findings: 2075 surveys were analyzed. Most respondents were 15–18 years of age, and 55% were female. The residence of participants included on a farm (51%), in the country but not a farm (20%), and in town (29%). Over four-fifths had been on an ROV, and 66% and 81% reported riding an ROV in the past year for occupational and recreational purposes, respectively. Many were frequent riders, with 50% and 36% of those who rode for occupational and recreation purposes, respectively, being at least weekly riders. The most frequent work tasks performed by youth with ROVs included transportation, checking fields and livestock, and working on fences. Those reporting that their families owned an ROV (35% overall) varied by place of residence (Farm > Country Not Farm > Town, p < 0.001). Over 95% and over 75% of ROV riders reported traveling on unpaved and paved public roads, respectively, in the past year. Many were at least weekly riders on public roads. About 80% stated they never or almost never wore a helmet, and nearly half stated they never or almost never wore the seat belt/safety harness when riding an ROV. In the year prior to taking the survey, 14% of those riding for occupational purposes and 12% of those riding for recreational purposes were involved in at least one ROV crash. Collision with an object was the most common crash mechanism (~42%), followed by a rollover (~38%). About 15% of those having a crash in the past year sought medical attention for injuries.

Practical Application: Iowa FFA members have high exposure to ROV riding, and both unsafe riding behaviors and crashes are very common. Interventions to increase ROV safety awareness and safe riding behaviors in children and adolescents are urgently needed, especially in rural areas.

摘要

目的：娱乐性非公路用车辆（ROV）变得越来越流行，但是没有研究检查农村青少年在驾驶ROV时的安全问题和经历。

方法：对2015年和2016年爱荷华州FFA领导会议的参加者进行了调查，以了解ROV的使用频率，实践的安全行为以及经历的撞车和伤害。进行描述性和比较性分析。

结果/发现：分析了2075个调查。大多数受访者年龄在15至18岁之间，其中55％是女性。参与者的住所包括一个农场（51％），该国（但不包括农场（20％）和城镇（29％））。超过五分之四的人使用ROV，并且在过去一年中分别有66％和81％的人报告出于职业和娱乐目的骑ROV。许多人是经常骑车的人，其中至少50％和36％的骑车人至少是每周一次，这些人出于职业和娱乐目的而骑。装有ROV的年轻人执行的最频繁的工作任务包括运输，检查田野和牲畜以及在篱笆上工作。那些报告其家庭拥有ROV（总计35％）的人因居住地而异（农场>农村非农场>城镇，p <0.001）。过去一年中，超过95％和75％以上的ROV车手报告称他们在未铺砌和铺砌的公共道路上旅行。许多人至少是每周在公共道路上骑车的人。大约80％的人表示他们从未或几乎从未戴过头盔，而近一半的人表示他们从未或几乎从未戴过ROV时系上安全带/安全带。在接受调查的前一年，从事职业用途的骑车者中有14％和从事休闲用途的骑车者中有12％至少发生了一次ROV碰撞。与对象的碰撞是最常见的崩溃机制（约42％），其次是翻转（约38％）。过去一年中发生车祸的人中，约有15％寻求医疗救治。几乎一半的人表示骑ROV时从未或几乎从未系过安全带/安全带。在接受调查的前一年，从事职业用途的骑车者中有14％和从事休闲用途的骑车者中有12％至少发生了一次ROV碰撞。与对象的碰撞是最常见的崩溃机制（约42％），其次是翻转（约38％）。过去一年中发生车祸的人中，约有15％寻求医疗救治。几乎一半的人表示骑ROV时从未或几乎从未系过安全带/安全带。在接受调查的前一年，从事职业用途的骑车者中有14％和从事休闲用途的骑车者中有12％至少发生了一次ROV碰撞。与对象的碰撞是最常见的崩溃机制（约42％），其次是翻转（约38％）。过去一年中发生车祸的人中，约有15％寻求医疗救治。

实际应用：爱荷华州FFA成员非常喜欢ROV骑行，并且不安全的骑行行为和碰撞都很常见。尤其在农村地区，迫切需要采取干预措施来提高儿童和青少年的ROV安全意识和安全的骑行行为。