| All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are extremely popular. | | | | instructed to place on the vehicle. |
| Though they are used for recreation, they are not | | | | Unfortunately, the letter did nothing to reduce the |
| toys, and need to be used with caution. But even | | | | number of Rhino ATV rollover accidents. In 2007, |
| when a rider is sensible, and takes all possible safety | | | | Yamaha finally offered to modify all Rhino ATVs free |
| precautions, ATV accidents can still occur. This is | | | | of charge. These modifications included new doors |
| especially true when the design of an ATV is | | | | and additional passenger handholds for the Rhino. The |
| defective, as is the case with the Yamaha Rhino | | | | company also provided more warning labels to be |
| ATV, or when the vehicle is not the proper size for | | | | placed on the vehicle, and updated the Rhino's |
| the person using it. | | | | owners manual. |
| According to a report released earlier this year by | | | | While the Yamaha Rhino's problems are well |
| the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), | | | | documented, some experts doubt that a child can |
| ATVs killed more than 500 people in 2006, and nearly | | | | safely ride any ATV. Currently, a research group at |
| 1 in 5 victims was a child. Accidents involving these | | | | the University of Kentucky is trying to find out if |
| vehicles sent 146,600 people to hospital emergency | | | | they are right. The group, made up of engineers, |
| rooms that same year. The CPSC said Pennsylvania | | | | surgeons, and trauma prevention experts is |
| has had the highest number of reported ATV deaths | | | | conducting a comprehensive multi-year study to |
| since 1982, followed by California, West Virginia, | | | | measure various physical and behavioral aspects of |
| Texas and Kentucky. Every state had at least one | | | | ATV safety, particularly involving children. |
| death attributed to ATVs. | | | | In August, the University of Kentucky researchers |
| Many ATVs can go as fast as 55 MPH and can weigh | | | | released preliminary results from experiments |
| as heavy as a quarter of a ton. Close to 75 percent | | | | involving current ATV size guidelines. Parents are |
| of all ATV accidents result in serious damage to the | | | | instructed to use these guidelines to find a |
| head or spinal cord of the accident victim. Head | | | | properly-sized ATV for their kids. But according to |
| injuries are a major cause of serious life threatening | | | | the results from these experiments, while current |
| or lifelong physical problems and ailments. Injury to | | | | guidelines do limit engine size, they fall far short of |
| the spinal cord can result in paralysis of the entire | | | | actually determining the correct frame size for young |
| body for life. | | | | riders. |
| Often, ATV accident injuries are the result of poorly | | | | The group said that current ATV size guidelines do |
| designed vehicles. For example, poor design has been | | | | not account for variability in body size and shape |
| blamed for the high rate of serious and often fatal | | | | among children of the same age group or even of |
| accidents involving the Yamaha Rhino ATV. Critics of | | | | the same age. For example: larger children under age |
| this dangerous vehicle claim its top-heavy design | | | | 16 may fit the adult-size vehicle frame better, even |
| makes rollover accidents far more likely during sharp | | | | though the recommendation would be for a |
| turns, even when the Rhino is traveling on a flat | | | | âyouthâ sized frame or engine. Improper |
| surface at a low rate of speed. What's worse, the | | | | frame size can adversely affect a rider's ability to |
| Yamaha Rhino provides no protection for a rider's | | | | properly steer, brake, or navigate varying terrain. |
| legs in the event of a rollover accident. | | | | The study also found that seven of the eight children |
| Victims of Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents usually | | | | age 6-11 tested did not meet recommended existing |
| experience broken or crushed legs, ankles or feet. In | | | | guidelines for proper fit when mounted on the |
| some cases, victims have been permanently disabled, | | | | adult-size ATV. The researchers stressed that |
| and have had limbs amputated following a Yamaha | | | | regardless of experience or supervision, a child in that |
| Rhino rollover accident. Children are most risk in Rhino | | | | age group should never be allowed on an adult-size |
| rollover accidents, as the weight of the vehicle can | | | | ATV. |
| crush their small bodies if they become trapped | | | | This concurs with the CPSC's own statistics on ATV |
| beneath it. | | | | accidents. According to its annual report, most ATV |
| Despite a growing number of accident reports | | | | deaths and injuries involving children result from |
| involving the Yamaha Rhino ATV, the company has | | | | youngsters riding adult-size ATVs. Consumer |
| never issued a recall for the vehicle. In 2006, Yamaha | | | | advocates have called on the CPSC to ban the sale |
| sent a letter to the owners of Rhino ATVs warning | | | | of adult-size ATVs for use for children, but the |
| that it was prone to tip while going through sharp | | | | agency has declined to do that. There is only a |
| turns. Riders were advised to use seatbelts, and to | | | | voluntary agreement in place with major ATV |
| keep their hands, arms and legs inside the vehicle at | | | | distributors in which they require dealers not to sell |
| all times. The letter also included information on | | | | adult-size ATVs to people who might allow children to |
| handling the Rhino if it should start to tip over, as well | | | | ride them. Consumer groups say few dealers abide |
| as a couple of warning labels that owners were | | | | by the rule. |