Summer fun on ATVs, golf carts, and off-road vehicles has turned deadly for some in Georgia. So far this year, 14 people have died in crashes involving these vehicles, and state troopers are urging everyone to be careful.
😟 Why It Matters: These vehicles are popular for work and play, but they can be dangerous if not used right. Knowing the risks and following safety rules can save lives on Georgia’s roads and trails.
🚨 What’s Happening: From January to June 2025, the Georgia State Patrol looked into 42 crashes with off-road vehicles. These crashes caused 14 deaths and many serious injuries. Most deaths involved multipurpose off-highway vehicles and all-terrain vehicles.
One sad case was a 16-year-old who died after an ATV hit a tree in Southeast Georgia. Another was a 39-year-old found under an overturned off-road vehicle on private land in Middle Georgia.
⚠️ Between the Lines: The state started a new program last year to register some off-road vehicles for use on county roads. But many vehicles like dirt bikes and ATVs are not included and can only be used off-road. Drivers must follow traffic laws, including no drinking or texting while driving.
Georgia’s Department of Public Safety reminds everyone: these vehicles are fun but come with risks. Always wear helmets, follow rules, and drive carefully to avoid more tragedies.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
