Last week's ATV accident in which two moms carrying three kids collided at Clover Creek Campground is another reminder that ATVs, ubiquitous as they may be, should not be regarded as toys. Three of the people involved had to be flown by helicopter to Salt Lake City hospitals, and the other two were transported from the scene by ambulance to Mountain West Medical Center. Neither the drivers nor passengers on the ATVs were wearing helmets.

ATV accidents are becoming increasingly common as the machines become more popular. The biggest problem with ATVs is their riders. Many riders continue to regard the machines as simple toys that require no expertise, protective equipment or general sense of caution to operate.

Utah state law requires all riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet, and all riders between 8 and 16 to take a training course before riding on public lands. It also prohibits anyone under 8 from operating an ATV. But on any given weekend at most any public recreation area, you will see very young children without helmets tearing up the backcountry. And of those over 8, it seems a safe bet very few have taken the requisite training course.

But the recklessness doesn't stop there. Some riders stack entire families -- dad, mom, brother, sister -- on ATVs. Others down a six-pack of beer at the campsite before setting off, or juggle a rifle in their left hand while steering with their right. Others enjoy racing their machine up Widowmaker grades then bailing off and letting it roll down the hill without them. Head out to Little Sahara on a long weekend and see for yourself: Any fool who can twist a throttle feels entitled to ride an ATV.

It's time for ATV riders to get serious about safety. Parents, in particular, should know how to operate their machines before letting children get anywhere near them. They also need to make sure their children take the state training course and wear helmets and protective clothing while riding. And ATV riders of all ages need to have a sense of the machine they're sitting on. Riding a machine that's too large or carrying passengers on a machine designed for a single rider are two of the chief causes of accidents. Finally, all riders need to exercise their general sense of caution and treat ATVs more like vehicles and less like toys.