If you're a West Virginian, you're at least 2 1/2 times more likely to die in an all-terrain vehicle accident than anyone else in the country.

Statistics released earlier this week by the Consumer Product Safety Commission showed that Mountain State ATV riders die much more often than riders in other states with high ATV-related death tolls.

Pennsylvania, for instance, led the nation with 420 deaths between 1982 and 2006. West Virginia ranked third with 398. But because West Virginia's population is much smaller, its residents' chances of dying were much higher. Here's how the states ranked in overall deaths: Pennsylvania, 420; California, 418; West Virginia, 398; Texas, 386; Kentucky, 367; Florida, 349; Tennessee, 322; New York, 303; North Carolina, 297; and Michigan, 296.

If you happen to live in one of those states, here are your chances of dying in an ATV wreck: West Virginia, one in 4,554; Kentucky, one in 11,561; Texas, one in 16,260; Tennessee, one in 19,121; Pennsylvania, one in 29,673; North Carolina, one in 30,303; Michigan, one in 34,483; Florida, one in 52,356; New York, one in 62,500; and California, one in 87,719.

By extension: If you're a West Virginian, your chances of expiring in an ATV accident are 2.5 times those of a Kentuckian, 3.6 times those of a Texan, 4.2 times those of a Tennessean, 6.5 times those of a Pennsylvanian, 6.7 times those of a North Carolinian, 7.6 times those of a Michigander, 11.5 times those of a Floridian, 13.7 times those of a New Yorker and 19.3 times those of a Californian.

On one level, it's easy to grasp why. ATV ownership is high in West Virginia. The state's terrain is rugged and uneven. Hunters and farmers ride four-wheelers into gnarly places. Young people treat ATVs the way kids used to treat bikes. And - let's face it - accidents happen.

On another level, though, the high death rate is difficult to fathom. Mountain State residents are supposed to be levelheaded and practical. Yet our riders continue to commit the three cardinal sins of ATV use: They ride without helmets. They ride double. And they ride on paved roads.

What's worse, all those actions are sanctioned - tacitly if not implicitly - by our state government.

Helmets, for example, are required only for riders under age 18. For some odd reason, our lawmakers left that loophole despite the fact that 95 percent of the state's fatal ATV accidents involve non-helmeted riders.

ATV manufacturers strongly recommend against riding double. Here's how our state's laws address the issue: "No ATV may be operated in this state with more than one passenger unless more passengers are allowed under manufacturer's recommendations."

At first glance, that would appear to prohibit doubling. But look more closely at the wording - "more than one passenger." The law doesn't define "passenger." In fact, it describes an ATV's rider as an "operator," and allows "passengers under the age of 18" if the operator "has a Level 2 intermediate drivers license...or is 18 years of age or older."

By the way, one-third of West Virginia's fatal ATV accidents involve passengers.

Finally, Mountain State law specifically allows ATVs to be used on any road that lacks a centerline. Of all the harebrained ideas ever concocted by our Legislature, this has to be the looniest. Since the law was enacted, two-thirds of West Virginia's fatal ATV wrecks have occurred on pavement.

Until laws are passed to correct these issues, the number of ATV deaths will continue to run high in ol' Wild and Wonderful. And West Virginians' chances of dying on one of those contraptions will continue to lead the nation.

Statistics released earlier this week by the Consumer Product Safety Commission showed that Mountain State ATV riders die much more often than riders in other states with high ATV-related death tolls.

Pennsylvania, for instance, led the nation with 420 deaths between 1982 and 2006. West Virginia ranked third with 398. But because West Virginia's population is much smaller, its residents' chances of dying were much higher. Here's how the states ranked in overall deaths: Pennsylvania, 420; California, 418; West Virginia, 398; Texas, 386; Kentucky, 367; Florida, 349; Tennessee, 322; New York, 303; North Carolina, 297; and Michigan, 296.

If you happen to live in one of those states, here are your chances of dying in an ATV wreck: West Virginia, one in 4,554; Kentucky, one in 11,561; Texas, one in 16,260; Tennessee, one in 19,121; Pennsylvania, one in 29,673; North Carolina, one in 30,303; Michigan, one in 34,483; Florida, one in 52,356; New York, one in 62,500; and California, one in 87,719.

By extension: If you're a West Virginian, your chances of expiring in an ATV accident are 2.5 times those of a Kentuckian, 3.6 times those of a Texan, 4.2 times those of a Tennessean, 6.5 times those of a Pennsylvanian, 6.7 times those of a North Carolinian, 7.6 times those of a Michigander, 11.5 times those of a Floridian, 13.7 times those of a New Yorker and 19.3 times those of a Californian.

On one level, it's easy to grasp why. ATV ownership is high in West Virginia. The state's terrain is rugged and uneven. Hunters and farmers ride four-wheelers into gnarly places. Young people treat ATVs the way kids used to treat bikes. And - let's face it - accidents happen.

On another level, though, the high death rate is difficult to fathom. Mountain State residents are supposed to be levelheaded and practical. Yet our riders continue to commit the three cardinal sins of ATV use: They ride without helmets. They ride double. And they ride on paved roads.

What's worse, all those actions are sanctioned - tacitly if not implicitly - by our state government.

Helmets, for example, are required only for riders under age 18. For some odd reason, our lawmakers left that loophole despite the fact that 95 percent of the state's fatal ATV accidents involve non-helmeted riders.

ATV manufacturers strongly recommend against riding double. Here's how our state's laws address the issue: "No ATV may be operated in this state with more than one passenger unless more passengers are allowed under manufacturer's recommendations."

At first glance, that would appear to prohibit doubling. But look more closely at the wording - "more than one passenger." The law doesn't define "passenger." In fact, it describes an ATV's rider as an "operator," and allows "passengers under the age of 18" if the operator "has a Level 2 intermediate drivers license...or is 18 years of age or older."

By the way, one-third of West Virginia's fatal ATV accidents involve passengers.

Finally, Mountain State law specifically allows ATVs to be used on any road that lacks a centerline. Of all the harebrained ideas ever concocted by our Legislature, this has to be the looniest. Since the law was enacted, two-thirds of West Virginia's fatal ATV wrecks have occurred on pavement.

Until laws are passed to correct these issues, the number of ATV deaths will continue to run high in ol' Wild and Wonderful. And West Virginians' chances of dying on one of those contraptions will continue to lead the nation.