| West Virginia has the highest rate of ATV rider deaths on public roads according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Two Roane County residents died on ATVs during the past week, a well tender killed in Calhoun and a hunter killed in Roane County, both off road accidents.
The study, just released, looked at rider deaths on public roads from 2007 to 2011.
West Virginia ranked No. 1 on the list with a death rate of 105 per 10 million.
West Virginia has broadly interpreted laws about riders using paved highways to ride, in addition to allowing ATV travel on roads without a center line.
ATV manufacturers have warning labels saying most ATVs are unstable on hardtop highways.
Most deaths occurred on public roads.
Sgt. Michael Baylous, State Police spokesman, cited the state's rural environment as a possible reason for the death rate.
linkx WV ATV DEATHS AT RECORD HIGH(01/20/2006)
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