First, South Carolina statutes don’t allow ATVs to be driven on public roads — but a Charleston ATV accident attorney knows that people tend to do it anyway. The message needs to be conveyed: Whether cruising through your neighborhood or venturing onto highways stretched across open lands — breaking these laws isn’t entertainment. It is a death-defying act that may result in fatality, dismemberment, or disabling injuries.
All-terrain vehicles are hard to control on paved roadways and prone to flipping over. ATVs have a high center of gravity with a narrow wheelbase, preventing them from being controlled while riding on paved roads. ATVs don’t have on-road tires nor come equipped with other lighting and turn signals required for driving on our streets or highways.
The manufacturers are well aware of these technicalities, which is why all ATVs have warning labels with instructions never to operate them on public roads or paved surfaces, due to handling problems or potential collision with other motorized vehicles.