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.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
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.
