The Webster County Board of Supervisors is considering a change regarding the use of off-highway vehicles on county roads. An existing ordinance allows OHVs on gravel roads, and permits them to travel a “reasonable distance” on paved roads. The proposed ordinance as currently drafted would remove the “reasonable distance” limitation.

Proponents of the change argue that it would clarify that ATVs can be used on Webster County Road P59 between the nearest gravel road and the entrance to Gypsum City OHV Park. That is a distance of about 1 1/2 miles. Whether a transit of that length is permitted by the “reasonable distance” wording in the current ordinance is uncertain since its meaning is open to interpretations.

The only way to ride in or out of Gypsum City on an ATV currently is via County Road P59.

That is a very busy paved road.

Using ATVs to any significant degree on public roadways raises major safety concerns. They were not designed for use on such roads. That’s why the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission mandates that ATVs sold in this country contain a warning label that says “never use on public roads.”

There are a number of good reasons for this warning. Here are two of them:

• Safety features required for on-road vehicles such as horns, turn indicators, brake lights and mirrors are not always present on ATVs; and

• Tires and suspensions for ATVs are not designed for use on hard surfaces and can result in somewhat unpredictable performance.

Additionally, the maximum speed for ATVs allowed by Iowa law is 35 mph. That makes their use on roadways where a significant amount of traffic moving much faster a hazard. Paved roads are a particular problem in this regard.

According to 2015 data from the Iowa Department of Transportation, 6,300 vehicles per day travel on P59 from the Fort Dodge city limits to 220th Street and 7,000 vehicles per day from 220th south to U.S. Highway 20.

To help put this in context, 6,900 vehicles per day use U.S. Highway 169 between Fort Dodge and U.S. Highway 20.

Very limited use of ATVs on lightly traveled public roads may be acceptable. Following a hearing on Thursday it appears likely that the new ordinance will be modified to permit ATVs only on the shoulder of P59 with appropriate markings posted. That is an improvement. This newspaper takes the position, however, that unrestricted use of ATVs on any paved roads in the county is a safety issue. We oppose an ordinance that permits unrestricted ATV travel on those roads.

This newspaper has been a strong supporter of Gypsum City OHV Park. The recreation it provides and the tourism it helps create are very good for Fort Dodge and Webster County.

Consequently, we support modifying the existing ordinance to limit ATV use on P59 to the shoulders with appropriate markings.

Encouraging more ATV to travel on other paved county roads is a dangerous policy. Unrestricted use on those roads should not be permitted. In addition to making those roads less safe, doing so might expose the county to liability should a tragic accident take place.