Associated Press
DERRY, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire police and safety officials are encouraging parents to be more aware of how dangerous off-highway recreational vehicles can be.
In New Hampshire, 15 people have been killed in off-road crashes since 1991, including two local teen-agers and a 9-year-old Hampstead boy in the past 18 months.
The dangers of off-road riding hit home for the Banfield family last April.
David Banfield Jr. 14, of Derry was thrown from a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle and smashed headfirst into a light pole. The boy suffered brain damage and has had frequent headaches since.
Officials say stricter laws governing off-road vehicle use and more focus on safety could prevent similar accidents in the future. Parents say they would like to see more designated areas for off-road vehicles, which would help make it a safer activity.
A bill sponsored by a Rumney legislator addresses both suggestions.
The legislation has already been approved by the state House of Representatives. A Senate committee is set to hold a hearing on the bill Tuesday.
Some residents in Salem hope the dirt bikes that disrupted their peace and quiet last year don’t return. It got so bad last spring and summer that they went before selectmen to voice their concerns.
In Derry, police have had to patrol neighborhoods searching for disruptive riders.
Much of the money generated by a proposed $17 increase in annual registration fees will be used by Fish and Game officials to hire local police for off-road details.
“Certainly, ATVs, if used appropriately as designed, can be a great form of recreation for some people,” said Derry police Capt. Malcolm MacIver. “But if they’re not properly used or even abused, they can be extremely dangerous and can even become a fatal instrument.”
He added, “We do address it as we can. But the most effective way to control it is through parental controls.”