WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) released its annual report raising the alarm that hundreds of Americans continue to die every year in off-highway vehicle (OHV), with 583 lives lost in 2025. Among these preventable deaths, children aged 15 years or younger represented the largest group. CFA’s data underscores the urgent need for safety reforms and awareness as summer approaches.  

“The number of children killed year after year by off-highway vehicle is a terrible indictment of our product safety system” said Courtney Griffin, CFA’s Director of Consumer Product Safety. “It is unacceptable that hundreds of children have died from preventable off-highway vehicles tragedies, while nothing changes and no meaningful safety reform occurs. These statistics are not just numbers. They are young lives cut too short and deaths that leave permanent scars on families and entire communities. We must do more to protect our most vulnerable.” 

“All OHVs, even youth models, pose risks,” said Dr. Gary Smith, President of the Child Injury Prevention Alliance. “OHVs are fast, complex machines, and due to their design, they roll over easily. One wrong choice could lead to the emergency department or worse. Children younger than 16 years just aren’t ready for the demands of safe riding, so we encourage parents to find a different activity for their child.” 

CFA’s 2025 fatality research also demonstrates that OHV fatalities disproportionately occurred on roads (66%). This is consistent with prior CFA reports and a 2024 CFA analysis of per-capita OHV fatalities by state from 2013 to 2024, which revealed a troubling trend between on-road OHV allowances and elevated fatality rates. West Virginia leads the nation with the highest per-capita OHV death rate, followed by northwestern states such as Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming. This pattern underscores that permissive on-road OHV policies are linked to greater risk and loss of life and highlights the urgent need for government action and increased public awareness.  

In 2025, fatalities increased substantially during the peak riding season, averaging approximately 66 deaths per month from May through September, compared with an average of 36 deaths per month during the rest of the year. July and August experienced the highest number of fatalities, with 84 and 77 deaths, respectively. 

Recent threats to the independence of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) may have a direct and dangerous impact on OHV deaths and overall consumer safety. The CPSC plays a critical role in setting and enforcing safety standards, issuing recalls, and providing unbiased, science-driven oversight. CFA warns that politicizing the CPSC limits its effectiveness and puts lives at risk.  

CFA urges consumers to take the following seven critical steps to reduce OHV deaths and injuries:  

• Never operate an OHV on a road. 
• Never permit children younger than 16 –years old to operate an adult-size OHV or any OHV that is too large or too powerful for them. 
• Always wear a helmet and other protective gear when riding an OHV. 
• When riding an OHV that contains seatbelts, always wear them. 
• Never allow more people on an OHV than it was designed to carry. 
• Never ride when under the influence. 
• Take a hands-on safety course. 

More information and annual fatality data are available at: Off-Highway Vehicle Safety and Fatality Data · Consumer Federation of America