| When ATV became a major competitor in | | | | wheels ATV. And the CPSC had a number of |
| recreational and utility vehicle in 1984, it | | | | flaws; it only covers the manufacturers |
| also escalated the growing concerns of the | | | | present at the forging of the decree. New |
| public. ATV was becoming a controversial | | | | manufacturers who entered the market after |
| vehicle. There was an estimated 60,000 | | | | the forging of Final Consent Decree are not |
| injuries in 1986, all ATV related due to | | | | covered by the plans so to speak and that |
| improper riding behavior and overly excessive | | | | gave them a considerable leeway towards ATV |
| thrill riding. In 1988, the Consumer Products | | | | manufacturing. Also, overseas manufacturers |
| Safety Commission (CPSC) entered into an | | | | are completely exempt of this decree. |
| unprecedented 10-year agreement with American | | | | |
| ATV manufacturers called the Final Consent | | | | There have been decrees attending to the |
| Decree. The agreement funded $100 million to | | | | nature of the machines themselves. One such |
| expand existing safety programs like free | | | | decree is the balance of the machine with |
| training incentives to ATV owners. But the | | | | regards to the riders age. Riders under the |
| biggest move of the Final Consent Decree was | | | | age of 16 are strictly prohibited from riding |
| the production shift from three wheeled ATVs | | | | ATVs with 90cc engines. Various states have |
| to four wheeled ATVs. Additionally, | | | | also enacted legislations governing ATV usage |
| manufacturers repurchased any unsold three | | | | within their boundaries, like for instance |
| wheel models and trade in three wheeled | | | | the riders age and the engine displacements |
| models with the four wheel ATVs. | | | | should concede with the decrees. |
| | | | |
| In spite of that move, injuries and deaths | | | | Some advocates, though, argue that a child |
| still occur regularly. On 2004 alone, | | | | starting to ride ATVs at younger age improves |
| statistics released by the CPSC estimated | | | | ATV safety. They had stated that this child |
| 136,000 injuries associated with ATVs are | | | | would develop necessary expertise as he grows |
| recorded on American hospitals, doubling the | | | | older instead of waiting until he is sixteen |
| numbers of accidents the last decade. The | | | | and handling larger ATVs. In effect, CPSC |
| expiration of the decree didnt help with the | | | | approved the usage of smaller ATVs with 50cc |
| ATV safety practices, though it effectively | | | | to be used by youngsters as early as 6. |
| replaced the three wheels with the four | | | | |