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