| As the sale of ATVs soar all throughout the country | | | | their kids to ride an ATV that is not meant for them. |
| and as more and more kids and parents start | | | | An adult-sized ATV is designed for an adult with |
| accepting ATV riding as a healthy hobby, the number | | | | adequate skills, flexibility, agility and maturity. Young |
| of deaths related to kids riding adult-model ATVs | | | | children do not have the necessary weight, height, |
| continue to rise along with it. Sale vs. Safety. It's a | | | | stretch and skills to properly handle an adult-sized |
| clear winner but....whose at fault? | | | | ATV. |
| Is there anyone who is at fault? | | | | Although most doctors contend that even the |
| That's the ultimate question that many people find so | | | | kid-sized ATVs are not entirely 100% safe, it is |
| difficult to answer. After all, even if ATV | | | | generally agreed that the risk is reduced |
| manufacturers help the government enforce a new | | | | tremendously and if young children understand safety |
| rule banning sale of adult-size ATVs if it was intended | | | | guidelines, are willing to abide by the rules and also |
| for a youth under16-years-old to use, it would be | | | | acquire enough skills to handle a kid-sized ATV, they |
| hard to enforce. On July 12th 2006, the Consumer | | | | should be allowed to ride their smaller model around. |
| Product Safety Commission's pleas for enforcing the | | | | All in all, the most important thing is for parents to |
| abovementioned rule were, once again, rejected. | | | | understand that ATVs are not toys - especially not |
| We feel that it is not the duty of the Commission | | | | the adult-sized ones - they are indeed heavy |
| nor is it the responsibility of the ATV manufacturers | | | | machines. So, parents should be taught and educated |
| to ensure that the death toll does not continue to | | | | about these safety rules. In fact, we recommend |
| escalate. The duty of ensuring that children, kids, | | | | that ATV manufacturers could do their bit by |
| youths, teens and whatever name you want to call | | | | including a more comprehensive (and attractive) |
| them should never be allowed to ride an ATV | | | | booklet to help educate parents about the use of |
| designed for adult-use. It's really as simple as that. | | | | ATVs. Retailers of ATVs could also help by sharing |
| And it is because of this ignorance that parents allow | | | | such information with their ATV customers. |