Before hopping on an all-terrain vehicle this spring, take a moment to prioritize safety over fun.

“People want to get out and explore nature and experience the outdoors,” said Scott DeNoon, senior farm product and underwriting manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co and member of the VFBF Farm Safety Advisory Committee. “ATVs are a popular way to do that, and it’s extremely important that riders practice safe operation to avoid accidents and injury.”

Serious accidents can easily occur with ATVs. A Lunenburg County community was recently rocked by the death of a 5-year-old girl in an ATV crash in which she was a passenger.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed there are more than 700 deaths and 100,000 injuries annually involving ATVs. Additionally, a publication by the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that approximately four pediatric patients are seen in emergency rooms every hour for ATV-related injuries.

“Depending on the dataset you’re...