All-terrain vehicles Safety Crisis
There is an ATV safety crisis in America today, and it poses a great threat to the health and well being of our nation’s children. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were first made available in the United States in the early 1970’s, and have become increasingly popular ever since. At first glance, ATVs may seem harmless; however the number of ATV-related injuries and deaths continues to rise with their popularity. Over 136,000 Americans suffer ATV-related injuries and deaths ever year and over one-third of the victims are children under 16 years of age. Despite the increasing epidemic, ATV manufacturers continue to market bigger, faster, and more dangerous ATVs for children.
ATVs have been available in the United States for approximately 40 years. They are three- or four- wheel motorized machines specifically designed for off-road travel. ATVs are intended for single occupant use and are characterized as an open chassis or frame, which travels on large, low-pressure tires, and uses handlebars for steering. Three-wheel machines have not been manufactured since 1988, however many still remain in use. ATV engines range from 49cc to 950cc and can travel at speeds well above 70 miles per hour.
ATV manufacturers were selling as many as 600,000 three- and four-wheel ATVs every year in the United States. As ATV sales continued to rise, dramatic increases in ATV accidents (http://www.bestattorney.com) followed. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) responded to the safety crisis by negotiating a Consent Decree with ATV manufacturers in which they agreed, among other things, to five major elements (http://www.cpsc.gov/library/atv2005.pdf):
• ATV manufacturers agreed to halt production of three-wheelers ATVs.
• ATV manufacturers would offer safety training to all new ATV owners.
• ATV manufacturers would recommend adult-sized ATVs only for those ages 16 and older.
• ATV manufacturers would label all ATVs with warnings, instructing purchasers that children should not ride adult-size ATVs.
• ATV manufacturers would recommend ATV engine sizes according to age: ATVs with an engine greater than 70cc should be used only by children 12 and older, and ATVs with an engine greater than 90cc should be used only by those 16 and older.
