Work or Play, Versatile UTVs Surge in Popularity in Wisconsin

   No one steps into a boat, kayak or canoe expecting to drown.

   Likewise, no one saddles up an ATV or snowmobile, or climbs into a side-by-side utility vehicle expecting to bash a tree or roll into oblivion on the first corner.

   And yet ATV, UTV, boating and snowmobiling accidents combined to kill an average of 68.4 people annually the past five years in Wisconsin. That’s a 20.4% increase from 2015-2019, according to records kept by the Department of Natural Resources.

   Boating-related deaths get the most attention each summer, with over 600,000 registered boats and an estimated 200,000 canoes and kayaks on our waters. Wisconsin averaged 19 boating deaths annually the past decade, often because only 37 (18%) of the 206 boaters killed from 2014 through 2024 were wearing a life jacket.

   Meanwhile, injuries and fatalities involving Wisconsin’s 324,629 ATVs and 188,163 UTVs aren’t confined to summer fun. Combined, off-roading accidents kill more people annually than boating and snowmobiling combined, including a record 47 in 2021. ATVs and UTVs also accounted for 40 fatalities in 2024 -- 21 on ATVs and 19 on UTVs -- and April was the only month without an ATV- or UTV-related death.

Because of their versatility for hunting, icefishing, trail-riding and fieldwork, utility side-by-sides (UTVs) have grown rapidly in popularity in Wisconsin, jumping 66% in registrations from 113,380 in 2020 to 188,163 in 2024.   — Photo by Matthew Jefko

   In contrast, before 2020, boating and snowmobiling fatalities closely matched the combined totals of ATV and UTV fatalities. Whether it’s icefishing, spring turkey hunting, summer trail riding, autumn deer hunting, or year-round work in fields and woodlands, Wisconsin hunters and anglers are maximizing their use of off-road vehicles.

   And when it comes to versatility, the UTV has no equal. Although ATVs rank a distant second to boats in registrations, UTVs quickly closed the gap the past five years on snowmobiles, which numbered 192,523 in 2024. By the end of 2024, UTVs accounted for 14.3% of all recreational machines and watercraft in Wisconsin, up from 8.8% of that total in 2020.

   In fact, no Wisconsin recreational vehicle comes close to matching the UTV’s surging popularity. From 2020 through 2024 UTV registrations rose 66%, while registrations for ATVs declined 1%, boats fell 2.75%; and snowmobiles fell 13%.

   Eric Storz, a public-relations specialist at Can-Am Off-Road, said hunters, anglers and farmers increasingly choose UTVs over ATVs for that year-round versatility. UTVs can haul more gear and multiple passengers, and some feature an enclosed cab, complete with heating and air-conditioning.

   “They’re basically miniature pickup trucks,” Storz said. “Over the past decade, a lot of people replaced ATVs with UTVs because they have so many more options, and haul people, tools and gear more efficiently. Plus, no one likes to scratch up a pickup truck that cost them $75,000.”

   Tragically, the UTV’s popularity also sparked more UTV-related fatalities. As of July 1, UTV-related deaths for 2025 in Wisconsin outpaced ATV deaths 16-3, with UTVs claiming the year’s first nine fatalities. Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, the DNR’s off-highway vehicle administrator, said five of the state’s seven UTV fatalities in January and February occurred when vehicles broke through ice.

   Holsclaw said some UTV owners assume that if ice safely supports ATVs and snowmobiles, it will also support UTVs. That’s not true. Of the 16 ATV and UTV fatalities caused by icy plunges from 2014 through April this year, 12 (75%) involved UTVs.

  “UTVs weigh more than many people realize,” Holsclaw said. “If you’re not driving your truck out there, don’t drive your UTV out there, either. And that’s the only place where you shouldn’t buckle in.”

   Year after year, however, most ATV and UTV fatalities occur on rural roads and highways. During 2024, for instance, a combined 69% of ATV and UTV crashes occurred on public routes designed for cars and trucks. Wisconsin has 65,000 miles of road routes and 2,300 miles of designated trails for ATVs and UTVs, as well as countless places where ATV and UTV drivers cross public roads and highways.

   Storz and Holsclaw said off-road vehicles don’t handle pavement as well as cars and trucks. ATVs and UTVs often have higher centers of gravity, so they don’t handle corners as easily. Further, their tires feature knobs, deep treads and lower air pressures to increase traction in mud, dirt and rough ground. Those same traits, however, grab and twist on pavement. Therefore, speeds safely handled by cars or pickups on curves and straight-aways can be deadly for ATVs and UTVs.

   “Any time you brake or turn an ATV or UTV on pavement, you’ll have less control than with a car, SUV or pickup,” Storz said. “A lot of people also forget to take the ATV or UTV out of four-wheel drive on pavement. It’s difficult to steer on roadways when that front differential is engaged. Off-road machines are purpose-built for off-road operation. They aren’t built for highway driving.”

   To operate an ATV or UTV on public trails, routes and frozen waters, drivers must earn an ATV safety certification if they’re born after Jan. 1, 1988. The DNR offers online and in-person courses. ATV drivers must be at least 12 and UTV drivers must be at least 16. Drivers and passengers under 18 must wear a DOT-approved helmet. Further, UTV drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts.

   Holsclaw stresses that a safety certification, and/or a state-issued driver’s license for those 16 and older, doesn’t mean you’re trained to operate ATVs and UTVs. “The course doesn’t teach hands-on operating skills,” Holsclaw said. “We recommend linking up with experienced drivers who can share their expertise and explain the different challenges.”

   And though inattention, excessive speed, and careless or inexperienced driving are top factors in fatalities, these faults aren’t unique to youths. In fact, of the 112 ATV/UTV fatalities from 2022 to the present, only 14 (12.5%) victims were 17 or younger, and at least five of those were passengers, not drivers.

   Not surprisingly, alcohol was the No. 1 factor in ATV/UTV fatalities during 2024. Of the 21 ATV fatalities, 12 (57%) involved alcohol; and of the 19 UTV fatalities, seven (37%) involved alcohol. The same 2024 DNR report found 80% of UTV victims were not buckled in, and 85% of ATV/UTV victims were not wearing a helmet.

   To further reduce injuries and fatalities, operators should consider safety equipment as required parts of an integrated, overlapping system. For instance, a UTV’s rollbar is most effective when everyone wears seatbelts and fastens their door net. Holsclaw said rollbars often kill people who get thrown from their seats, or break bones when arms or legs don’t stay inside the compartment.

   Likewise, Storz urges riders and operators to wear long pants, full sleeves and eye protection, especially when driving ATVs or UTVs without windshields. “It’s easy to let your guard down because UTVs give this sensation of riding in a car, but you can get jabbed by sticks or branches, or hit by flying debris when you go off-road,” Storz said.

   Finally, common courtesy helps keeps you safe. Use trail etiquette like hand signaling turns, and alerting oncoming riders how many vehicles are behind you.

   For more safety information, hit these links:

   Wisconsin DNR: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/Education/OutdoorSkills/safetyEducation

   Responsible Rider: https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/us/en/owner-zone/responsible-rider.html

   Ride Safe Foundation: https://ridesafefoundation.org

   Safety Resources: https://www.youtube.com/@CANAMOFFROAD;  https://www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road/owner-resources/rider-safety/