Can ATVs Legally Use the Roads?
Every state holds different requirements for ATV use in terms of riding on public roads. While some states may permit these vehicles if slightly modified, Wisconsin does not offer such options for four-wheeler owners. Instead, the state limits use of these vehicles to very specific instances, largely keeping them out of traffic and away from automobiles.
To learn more about your options if you have been injured by a reckless ATV rider, contact the Rhinelander auto accident attorneys of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ®, by calling 800-242-2874.
ATV Use and Restrictions
According to state law, all-terrain vehicles are rarely permitted on public roads. The law clearly states that ATVs cannot be driven on public roads normally and should not even be driven next to highways and public roads even if there is a suitable ditch. Although snowmobiles are permitted to use these spaces, ATVs do not have the same road rights. Instead, the law limits ATV use on the roads to the following situations:
- Officially marked ATV routes
- Use for agriculture
- Roads not maintained for automobile use
- Crossing a necessary bridge or culvert
In the rare instances when an all-terrain vehicle can drive on a public road, that vehicle must yield the right of way to all other traffic. Additionally, the law states that the ATV should take the most direct route when crossing a bridge or road, spending as little time on the road as possible.
Contact Us
The restrictions on all-terrain vehicles protect drivers from confusion involving these vehicles. A reckless or heedless ATV rider can pose a serious danger to the regular pace of traffic, especially if he or she stops or turns out of accordance with basic traffic laws. If you or someone you know has been injured by an operator of one of these vehicles, contact the Rhinelander car accident lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ®, today at 800-242-2874.
