Yakima plans to require liability insurance for ATVs used on city streets [Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash.] – InsuranceNewsNet

Jan. 19 – A decision to allow all-terrain and utility vehicles on the streets of Yakima didn’t cause much trouble, but the police traffic lieutenant. Ira Cavin such drivers should be required to take out liability insurance.

Yakima City Council passed an ordinance in 2021 allowing ATVs and UTVs to be driven on city streets where the speed limit is 35 mph or less.

Drivers must have a valid driver’s license and follow the rules of the road, but Cavin told the Yakima City Council Tuesday that drivers are not currently required to carry insurance.

“I think maybe we need to work with city staff and legal staff and see if they can come back with an amendment to the ordinance that explicitly states they have to carry liability insurance,” Cavin said. . “Because obviously they can cause a collision if they’re on the road, just like anyone else.”

The board asked staff to draft the change and bring it back for approval.

Cavin said a change was needed, but otherwise the decision to allow ATVs and UTVs on the roads was a good one. While the traffic unit police carry out educational traffic checks, they do not see any collisions or illegal activities, he said.

Collisions

Cavin said there was one notable chase and one fatal collision involving side-by-side UTVs in 2022. Two men died in a UTV crash following a high-speed chase in October. Both men were wearing harness-type restraints but no helmets, according to Yakima police.

No other ATV or UTV collisions on public roads have been reported since the order took effect, Cavin said.

He noted that people driving the vehicles are at an increased risk of injury. Although UTVs behave like cars, the vehicles are not designed to absorb the impact of a crash, Cavin said. There’s a higher risk of injury for ATV or UTV riders, even in low-speed crashes that could leave the driver of a standard vehicle unharmed, he said.

“It’s up to the UTV operator to make the decision to be on the road,” he said.

Drivers are required to wear helmets when vehicles are in motion, except when the vehicle is equipped with seat belts, roll bars, or an enclosed cab, depending on city code.

Traffic stops

Cavin said ATV and UTV traffic stops usually come from a situation where a UTV driver is on a road with a speed limit above 35 mph.

“Usually it’s an educational contact,” Cavin said.

Drivers may not be aware of speed limits for ATVs and UTVs and should plan a different driving route, Cavin said. The drivers were generally in the West Valleycoming from or towards the house, he said.

Other stops were made for noise pollution, Cavin said.

“A lot of these UTVs come with external speakers,” he said. “A normal car has windows and doors and stuff to keep the music they’re listening to inside. With those, in particular, they don’t.”

A map showing the streets where ATVs or UTVs can be driven within the city limits is available on the city’s website.

Contact Catherine Smith at [email protected].

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