David Jenkins: UTVs on city streets would create more bad than good

At next month’s Sikeston City Council meeting, council members will vote on whether to allow Sikeston residents to use UTVs on city streets.

It’s a growing trend for municipalities to allow things like UTVs and golf carts on city streets but it is one I wish Sikeston would avoid.

Last year, Council heard arguments in favor of allowing things like golf carts on city streets but fortunately the item never made it to a vote. But another push this fall has led to a new ordinance presented to Council that would allow UTVs but not ATVs or golf carts, to be driven on any city streets with a speed limit of 45 or less that isn’t a state highway. They aren’t allowed on Main or Malone which is good, but that to me isn’t the problem.

I will agree that UTVs are much safer on the streets than golf carts or ATVs and even the little scooters that people drive all over town. The UTVs must be equipped with turn signals, headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, reflex reflectors and an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger’s side or an interior mirror. Drivers must be 18 years or older and have a valid driver’s license.

That all sounds great in theory, assuming it will be enforced. Sikeston DPS has much bigger things to focus on than UTVs on the street. Already on my street there are golf carts and UTVs that are driven by non-licensed drivers. As a matter of fact, earlier this fall I was almost t-boned by a golf cart on a local city street with a driver who could barely see over the steering wheel.

If DPS is unable to enforce the small number of non-legal vehicles on the road now, imagine how much tougher it will be when there are more UTVs on the street. And we all know if people start seeing UTVs on city streets legally, others will be out there illegally until they are caught.

In Kennett just a few weeks ago a teen was killed on a UTV. Sikeston DPS Director James McMillen said it was due to unsafe driving but I’m sure that everyone on the Sikeston streets won’t be driving like angels. I don’t think it is a question of if something bad will happen but a matter of when and how tragic will it be.

And for what? What are the benefits? People will be able to drive their UTVs to the store or down the block to talk to a neighbor but you can do the same thing on a bicycle. Will there be an economic boom because of the UTV use? I don’t think so. I’m sure the City will make a little money on the registration but will it be worth the headache in the long run?

The City will vote on the issue at their Jan. 6 meeting and I would guess that it will pass. If it does pass I just hope that the benefits from it, small as they are, will outweigh all the negatives that could arise. After all, there is a reason they haven’t been legalized for city streets all this time.

David Jenkins is co-editor of the Standard Democrat.