In 2017, 13-year-old Tyler Hughes of Clemmons went for a ride on his ATV. The road was slick, and the ATV flipped over on him. Tyler survived the crash, but the roll bar severed his left arm. Fortunately, surgeons were able to re-attach his arm, but the near-death experience didn‘t deter the boy. While recovering from surgery, Tyler told a Winston-Salem Journal reporter, “I can‘t wait to start riding again.”
What happened to young Tyler was not a rare occurrence. According to Reuters, about 11,000 such accidents occur every year resulting in 900 deaths annually, and that‘s just involving ATVs. Dirt bikes are also a source of tragedy.
Last month 14-year-old Cam Trail died in a motorcross competition when he collided in mid-air with another biker. The event was hosted by East Bend Motorsports and held in Yadkin County. Afterward, Emiee Murray of King who organized a GoFundMe page for Cam‘s family said, “He [Cam] inspired others to chase their dreams.” Dreams of what? An early death? No matter because the day after Cam‘s death, the competition continued as if nothing had happened. Chad Mabe of Tobaccoville had no problem letting his 13-year-old son get back on the track saying, “What happened last night could have happened in any sport.” Another parent, Jarrett Gold wrote on Facebook, “It scares me to death it could happen to my child…but God says, ‘Trust Me.‘” Are you kidding me? I‘m no Bible scholar, but from what I‘ve read God never indicated that 13- and 14-year-old boys should ride ATVs or race dirt bikes.
There‘s a reason why society imposes age restrictions on products and activities that could pose a threat to the well-being of children. Here in North Carolina, for example, you must be 18 to purchase cigarettes (in 2019, Congress raised the age to purchase tobacco products to the age of 21), and 21 to buy alcohol. You must be 16 to apply for a driver‘s license. You must be at least 17 years old to join the armed forces and you can‘t play in the concussion-ridden NFL unless you‘ve been out of high school for three years. You must be 21 to purchase a handgun, and 18 to compete at the top NASCAR races. The reason for these and other restrictions is that children and young teens are not yet fully developed physically, emotionally, or mentally, and need time to mature before embarking on high-risk activities.
Nevertheless, organizers of motorsports and ATV events will tell you that they are not to blame for accidents and injuries because parents have signed a consent form. The problem is that parental consent is not designed to circumvent the law and here in North Carolina, a parent whose child is injured or killed while operating any kind of motorized vehicle or equipment, is guilty of a Class E felony which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Specifically, N.C. statute 14-318.4, section (a4) states, “A parent or any other person providing care to or supervision of a child less than 16 years of age whose willful act or grossly negligent omission in the care of the child shows a reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class E felony if the act or omission results in serious bodily injury to the child.” Translation? If you let a child engage in dangerous behavior, you are guilty of child abuse.
I can understand why a 13-year-old who just had his arm severed in an ATV accident would say “I can‘t wait to start riding again.” That‘s because children don‘t know any better.
Their parents should.
The Dangers of Parental Consent
In 2017, 13-year-old Tyler Hughes of Clemmons went for a ride on his ATV. The road was slick, and the ATV flipped over on him. Tyler survived the crash, but the roll bar severed his left arm. Fortunately, surgeons were able to re-attach his arm, but the near-death experience didn‘t deter the boy. While recovering from surgery, Tyler told a Winston-Salem Journal reporter, “I can‘t wait to start riding again.”
What happened to young Tyler was not a rare occurrence. According to Reuters, about 11,000 such accidents occur every year resulting in 900 deaths annually, and that‘s just involving ATVs. Dirt bikes are also a source of tragedy.
Last month 14-year-old Cam Trail died in a motorcross competition when he collided in mid-air with another biker. The event was hosted by East Bend Motorsports and held in Yadkin County. Afterward, Emiee Murray of King who organized a GoFundMe page for Cam‘s family said, “He [Cam] inspired others to chase their dreams.” Dreams of what? An early death? No matter because the day after Cam‘s death, the competition continued as if nothing had happened. Chad Mabe of Tobaccoville had no problem letting his 13-year-old son get back on the track saying, “What happened last night could have happened in any sport.” Another parent, Jarrett Gold wrote on Facebook, “It scares me to death it could happen to my child…but God says, ‘Trust Me.‘” Are you kidding me? I‘m no Bible scholar, but from what I‘ve read God never indicated that 13- and 14-year-old boys should ride ATVs or race dirt bikes.
There‘s a reason why society imposes age restrictions on products and activities that could pose a threat to the well-being of children. Here in North Carolina, for example, you must be 18 to purchase cigarettes (in 2019, Congress raised the age to purchase tobacco products to the age of 21), and 21 to buy alcohol. You must be 16 to apply for a driver‘s license. You must be at least 17 years old to join the armed forces and you can‘t play in the concussion-ridden NFL unless you‘ve been out of high school for three years. You must be 21 to purchase a handgun, and 18 to compete at the top NASCAR races. The reason for these and other restrictions is that children and young teens are not yet fully developed physically, emotionally, or mentally, and need time to mature before embarking on high-risk activities.
Nevertheless, organizers of motorsports and ATV events will tell you that they are not to blame for accidents and injuries because parents have signed a consent form. The problem is that parental consent is not designed to circumvent the law and here in North Carolina, a parent whose child is injured or killed while operating any kind of motorized vehicle or equipment, is guilty of a Class E felony which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Specifically, N.C. statute 14-318.4, section (a4) states, “A parent or any other person providing care to or supervision of a child less than 16 years of age whose willful act or grossly negligent omission in the care of the child shows a reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class E felony if the act or omission results in serious bodily injury to the child.” Translation? If you let a child engage in dangerous behavior, you are guilty of child abuse.
I can understand why a 13-year-old who just had his arm severed in an ATV accident would say “I can‘t wait to start riding again.” That‘s because children don‘t know any better.
Their parents should.