MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Too many recreational vehicle users are not heeding the message when it comes to safety.
Operating an ATV/UTV can be safe – if you take some precautions. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources off-highway vehicle administrator, Lieutenant Jacob Holsclaw.
“We’ve been preaching these things for years. What we’re seeing with these incidents, it’s not different than any other year in the past, is that fortunately a lot of folks are choosing to not wear helmets, choosing to not wear seat belts. And also the majority of our folks have not taken an ATV safety course,” Holsclaw said.
Statistics show failure to wear helmets and use seatbelts are the primary causes of Wisconsin’s worst in the nation 29 fatal ATV/UTV incidents so far in 2026. DNR records show 13 of this year’s fatalities involved ATVs and 16 involved UTVs.
The top three types of fatal crashes were rollovers, collision with a motor vehicle and ejections. Operating an ATV on public riding areas requires a safety certification course for those at least age 12 years of age born on or after January 1, 1988. Holsclaw says that means many older riders have never taken a course.