Officials in Southern Ky. Consider Allowing ATVs on Roads

Officials in a southern Kentucky community are considering a proposal that would make it legal to ride all-terrain vehicles on county roads.

The Wayne County Fiscal Court took up the measure after a magistrate submitted a petition signed by a few hundred people, Judge-Executive Greg Rankin said.

Under the proposal, ATVs could be ridden on county roads by those with valid driver’s licenses. Vehicles would be required to have a headlight and two taillights, and could be operated only during daylight hours. The proposal could be up for a vote by Aug. 9, Rankin said.

Kentucky law essentially bans ATVs from paved roads, but the law contains a provision that allows cities or counties to designate roads within their jurisdictions for legal ATV riding.

Officials at the Kentucky Association of Counties and the Kentucky County Judge Executive Association said they didn’t know of any other counties that have attempted to open roads to ATV riders.

Some Kentucky injury-prevention authorities say it would be risky to let ATV riders use paved roads. The machines are designed for rough terrain and could become unstable on smooth pavement.