Rural Iowa Adolescents’ Use, Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding UTVs on Public Roads

Parker Sternhagen, Undergraduate
Brooke Askelsen, Undergraduate
Cole Wymore, MD
Junlin Liao, PhD
Pam Hoogerwerf, BA
Brenda Vergara, AA
Charles Jennissen, MD

Manufacturers warn against the use of utility task vehicles (UTVS) on public roads as they are not designed for roadway use. In fact, most UTV-related deaths occur on public roads with the majority not involving another vehicle. Despite this, legislative bodies across the U.S. are passing laws allowing increased UTV use on public roads. The study objective was to examine rural adolescent’s use, knowledge and attitudes regarding UTVs on public roads.

An anonymous survey was performed of 2024 Iowa FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) Leadership Conference attendees. Descriptive, bivariate (chi-square) and logistic regression analyses were performed using Stata 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX).

1,029 FFA members participated. Respondents were 13-18 years with 67% being 14-17 years. One-half were from a farm, one-fifth lived in the country/not a farm, and 30% were from a town. Almost all (96%) were non-Hispanic White. Over half (53%) of respondents’ families owned a UTV and over two-thirds (69%) had driven/ridden one. Of those who had driven/ridden a UTV, 94% had driven/ridden on an unpaved public road (51% reported doing so at least weekly) and 87% had been on a paved road (41% reported doing so at least weekly). Males and owners of UTVs had greater odds of having driven on both unpaved (2.2x and 30.7x, respectively) and paved (1.7x, 13.4x, respectively) public roads at least weekly as compared to their peers. Overall, 64% and 63% stated it was safe to drive UTVs on unpaved and paved public roads, respectively, while 62% and 54% stated UTVs were designed for unpaved and paved roads, respectively. Males (2.8x), owners of UTVs (2.1x) and those that had ridden on public roads (3.1x) all had greater odds of stating it was safe to drive UTVs on both unpaved and paved roads than their comparative peers. Less than half (44%) agreed that most UTV deaths occur on public roads. Over half agreed to assertions that UTV manufacturers state UTVs are safe on unpaved (54%) and paved (52%) public roads. Generally, males, UTV owners, UTV riders, those who had ridden on public roads and more frequent riders all had greater proportions that held these misconceptions. The vast majority (82%) incorrectly believed one could be under 18 years to legally drive UTVs on Iowa county roads.

A majority of study participants had driven/ridden a UTV and almost all of these had been on public roads. The majority agreed it was safe to drive UTVs on both unpaved and paved public roads and were unaware that most UTV-related deaths occur on roads. They also believed the falsehood that manufacturers state UTVs are safe on unpaved and paved public roads. Targeted education and enforced legislation prohibiting use on public roads may be critical in decreasing UTV-related deaths and injuries.

1. Describe present practices of rural adolescents regarding driving UTVs on public roads.
2. Discuss the attitudes rural adolescents have related to the driving of UTVs on public roads.
3. State at least three demographic groups that had higher proportions who held misconceptions and falsehoods related to UTVs on public roads.