| All Terrain Vehicles, ATVs are some of the most | | | | more than a quarter of all ATV injuries and deaths. |
| dangerous vehicles ever marketed to American | | | | The American Academy of Pediatrics has called ATV |
| consumers. They are notorious for frequent rollovers, | | | | use by children "the perfect recipe for tragedy," and |
| even at very low speeds and on very slight grades. | | | | in 2000, the Academy made a statement |
| Hundreds of ATV drivers and passengers have been | | | | recommending against the use of ATVs by children |
| injured or killed when their vehicle rolled over. The | | | | under 16, saying, "The safe use of ATVs requires the |
| most frequent injuries, including fractures and crushed | | | | same or greater skill, judgment, and experience as |
| limbs, have been to riders' legs, ankles and feet. The | | | | needed to operate an automobile." The American |
| injuries have frequently been so severe that | | | | College of Orthopedic Surgeons, whose physician |
| amputation has been required. Drivers and passengers | | | | members see the outcomes of children's accidents in |
| have been killed when their ATV rolled over on them | | | | ATVs calls children's use of ATVs "a significant public |
| and crushed them. Because of their smaller size, | | | | health risk." |
| children are especially vulnerable in ATV rollovers, and | | | | The costs of these ATV injuries and deaths are |
| many children have lost their lives from riding in an | | | | substantial, not only to the families whose loved one |
| ATV | | | | is injured or killed, but to the general public. The US |
| Safety on ATVs has been a major concern since | | | | Consumer Products Safety Commission has |
| Honda introduced the first ATV to the US in1971. | | | | estimated that taxpayers and employers pay more |
| The US Consumer Product Safety Commission | | | | $3 billion a year in medical expenses for ATV injuries |
| started keeping statistics on ATV injuries and deaths | | | | through government and private insurance |
| in 1982, and has documented more than 2 million | | | | ATV Industry Leaves Safety Up to Riders Safety |
| injuries in ATV accidents, and 8000 deaths. In 2004, | | | | issues haven't put a dent in ATV sales. ATV's are |
| the latest year for which statistics are available an | | | | now a $5 billion dollar industry in the US, and the ATV |
| estimated 136,100 ATV-related injuries were treated | | | | manufacturers have even created their own |
| in US hospital emergency room, and 767 people died | | | | organization, the ATV Safety Institute. The institute |
| in fatal ATV accidents. In 2005 the risk of injury was | | | | acknowledges that ATV's can tip and roll over, but it |
| 171.5 injuries per 10,000 four-wheel ATVs in use. The | | | | rolls the responsibility for accidents back to drivers. If |
| risk of death in 2004 was 1.1 deaths per 10,000 | | | | the driver observes safe driving principles, it |
| four-wheelers in use. | | | | contends, accidents are few and far between. The |
| Risks for Children in ATVs Children under 16 are the | | | | implication: serious and fatal accidents are the fault of |
| most vulnerable group of ATV riders, comprising | | | | the drivers. |