News-Record.com

Friday's No. 2 editorial.

Three years ago, the General Assembly tightened laws restricting the use of off-road all-terrain vehicles to better protect kids. Legislation, however, doesn’t trump adult responsibility.

When that comes up short, tragedy results. This week in Guilford Superior Court, a Whitsett man pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the ATV-related death of his 3-year-old step-grandson. He reportedly lost control of the four-wheeler, which hit an embankment, rolled over and crushed the child.

As a result, he will spend a few weekends in jail and several years on unsupervised probation. But a family will never be the same again. Try as we might, there’s no taking back a fleeting lapse of common sense.

A spate of fatal ATV mishaps in the state led the legislature to act. After some waffling, lawmakers wrote guidelines for youthful operators, set safety equipment requirements and called for some riders to attend approved safety instructional courses. The law doesn’t apply to farm use.

At the time, critics correctly pointed out that setting more rules is no substitute for adult responsibility. But the law did establish a much-needed framework for confronting and reducing ATV misuse.

If riders do comply, they lessen their chance of serious injury. For example, studies show that wearing a helmet can reduce ATV injuries by almost half.

And rider-safety courses regularly held by law-enforcement agencies and some motorcycle clubs also can help by familiarizing operators with an unfamiliar vehicle. The atvsafety.org Web site offers helpful safety tips and course information.

With the arrival of warmer weather, ATVs will come out of winter hibernation. The hard lesson learned in a local courtroom is that adults must make sure they’re operated safely.