24 Percent Rise Renews Calls For Restrictions, Ban On Use By Anyone Under 16

[JackL]

Kids' ATV Death Rate Up, Study Says
Recent 24 Percent Rise Renews Calls For Restrictions, Ban On Use By Anyone Under 16



 (CBS) The death rate of kids using all-terrain vehicles in the United States increased significantly during a recent five-year span, according to one report, adding fuel to efforts by a parents' group to restrict and ultimately ban the use of the machines by anyone under 16.

The industry insists voluntary safety standards already in place are working.

Concerned Families for ATV Safety says the report, being released Tuesday by West Virginia University's Injury Control Research Center, shows a 24 percent jump, to an average of 171 a year, in deaths of kids using ATVs from 2000-2004, about the same time during which the industry has been policing itself with its guidelines.

The group says the new findings "for the first time, directly refute that claim. This data clearly shows that the dangers of ATVs are increasing" at an alarming rate.

Carol Ellert Keezer, a co-founder of the group, lost her 12-year-old son, Alex, in an ATV accident.

She told The Early Show consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen she'd never heard of anyone being killed using an ATV, and thought Alex's death was a freak occurrence.

But soon, Keezer found other mothers who had lost children in such mishaps, and they formed Concerned Families for ATV Safety.

For starters, the group is pushing for a federal ban on the sale of adult-size ATVs for use by anyone under 16. In the long run, the group wants a complete ban on ATV use by kids in that age range.

"Warning labels, manuals, and safety courses are not preventing our children from dying," says Keezer, referring to a voluntary safety campaign the industry has in place.

But the industry says the proper use of ATVs is key, and ATV dealers face disciplinary actions from manufacturers if dealers are found selling adult-sized ATVs for use by kids.

The industry says it favors state — not federal — legislation regarding ATV safety.

Among other things, industry spokespeople say mandatory training on ATV use for kids under 16 would help, as would the mandatory use of helmets and protective gear, and mandatory supervision by adults.

The industry asserts it's the way people ride four-wheelers, not a lack of regulation, that leads to accidents, injuries and deaths, and says parents need to make smart decisions about whether or not their kids are physically and mentally ready to handle an ATV.

Keezer says she doesn't think the ATV industry is doing enough to inform parents about the dangers.

And on The Early Show Tuesday, Carolyn Anderson, another co-founder of Concerned families for ATV Safety, told co-anchor Harry Smith the problem centers around "children driving large, powerful machines that are inappropriate for children under the age of 16. They're too dangerous.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics and many other child safety advocates say (ATVs are) too dangerous for children. This study bears that fact out. They're killing and injuring just so many children, they're not safe.

"Children under the age of 16 don't have the judgment skills or common sense required to operate a motor vehicle like that safely. They just don't have the ability to do that."

As for industry claims that mandatory training on ATV use and mandatory adult supervision could minimize risks, Anderson asks rhetorically, "Would you say that your child can operate your Corvette as long as he's had two hours of training? I don't think so."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/31/earlyshow/living/parenting/main3116736.shtml

[eldiablo64]

sounds like quite a few parents learned the hard way that atv's are not motorized baby sitters.Gee I wonder why it doesn't mention how many of those children were usupervised!!!just my .02

[Michael Bolton]

kids under 16 are more likely to crash an atv, large percentage is not used to driving motorized vehicles. but the ones that have responsible parents that taught them to ride properly shouldnt be punished by the large percentage of idiots. no one wants kids killing themselves but we cant let the government regulate everything. pretty soon everything will be illegal

ps. im currently listening to the "mud drenched trail" commercial for mudfest on the gator, the can-am one. and that kid in the pic above is in some deep stuff

[GrizzlyGator]

Some perspective on what is dangerous...should we also ban bicycles i mean come on this is getting ridiculous. You cant'  tell me that mother and father of the 12 yr old that died (truly sorry for their loss) didn't think any type of motorized vehicle are completely safe, if he died on his bike would she go On the today show and want to ban them??

http://www.massbike.org/info/statistics.htm
  Bicycle Crash Statistics

I originally put together this summary of the most recent data available as background for a TV news story on bicycle safety which was broadcast on Channel 5 in Boston on May 18, 2001. I will continue to add new information as it becomes available. -Doug Mink
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
Funded by the US Department of Transportation, this program of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center in cooperation with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals says:
In 1999, there were 750 bicycling fatalities and 51,000 bicycling injuries resulting from traffic crashes in the United States. While these numbers continue to decrease from year to year, bicyclist fatalities still account for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities as well as 2 percent of all traffic injuries.
They summarize their findings on this page, and have a nice table of accident types and their relative frequency.

Their summary of crash causes
Here is a summary of what is illustrated on this page:
When the motorist and bicyclist were on initial parallel paths, either in the same direction or opposing directions, the three most frequent categories of crashes were:
Motorist turning or merging into the path of a bicyclist (12.1 percent of all crashes). Almost half (48.8 percent) of these crashes involved a motorist making a left turn in front of a bicyclist approaching from the opposite direction.
Motorist overtaking a bicyclist (8.6 percent of all crashes). Of these crashes, 23 percent appeared to involve a motorist who misjudged the space required to safely pass the bicyclist.
Bicyclist turning or merging into the path of a motorist (7.3 percent of all crashes). Within this category, 60 percent involved a bicyclist making a left turn in front of a motorist traveling in the same direction.

When the motorist and bicyclist were on initial crossing paths, the three most frequent categories of crashes were:
Motorist failed to yield right-of-way at a junction (21.7 percent of all crashes). Of these crashes, more than a third (37.3 percent) involved a motorist violating the sign or signal and drove into the crosswalk or intersection and struck the bicyclist.
Bicyclist failed to yield right-of-way at an intersection (16.8 percent of all crashes). Within this category, 38 percent involved a bicyclist who had stopped for a sign or flashing signal and then drove into the intersection and was struck by the motor vehicle.
Bicyclist failed to yield right-of-way at a midblock location (11.7 percent of all crashes). Almost half of these crashes (43.4 percent) involved a bicyclist riding out into the roadway from a residential driveway.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Their National Center for Statistics and Analysis has a PDF file of 2002 bicycle accident statistics.

North Carolina Division of Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation
They have have used the PBCAT (Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool) to analyze accidents statewide and present statistics about them in a variety of ways, so you can do your own cross-correlations of accident types and circumstances.

Institute for Traffic Safety Analysis (ITSA)
Their web site states: Specializing in the use of NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the Institute for Traffic Safety Analysis is an independent research organization dedicated to the collection and dissemination of relevant traffic safety facts, and provides objective evaluation of the available data while seeking definitive answers to some of the outstanding questions in the field of traffic safety research. but they really only have studied bicycle crash statistics. They draw some interesting conclusions from the data.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Some numbers on nationwide bicycle fatalities from 1975-2002:
660 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2002. This is 9 percent fewer than in 2001 and down 34 percent since 1975. Bicycle deaths are most likely to occur in summer. Deaths are most likely to occur on Fridays and Saturdays. The peak time is 3-9 pm.
Ninety-eight percent of bicyclists killed in 1999 reportedly weren't wearing helmets.
Deaths of older bicyclists are an increasing problem. Seventy-one percent of 1999 bicycle deaths were riders 16 years and older. This compares with 32 percent of bicycle deaths in 1975.
Four states (California, Florida, New York, and Texas) accounted for 43 percent of bicycle deaths in 1999.
More bicyclists were killed in urban areas than in rural areas (64 percent compared with 36 percent) in 1999.
Thirty-five percent of bicycle deaths in 1999 occurred at intersections.
Fifty-seven percent of bicycle deaths in 1999 occurred on major roads, and 37 percent occurred on local roads.
Fifty-nine percent of bicycle deaths among children younger than 13 and 27 percent of adult bicycle deaths occur on minor roads. Adult bicyclists are more likely than children to be killed on major roads (67 percent compared with 38 percent).

Tables of total bicycle deaths for each year 1975-2002, and percent involving adults (age 16 and up).
The number of total deaths has dropped from 1003 in 1975 to 660 in 2002.
Institute for Traffic Safety Analysis (ITSA)
Riley Geary has analyzed U.S. Bicycle Traffic Fatalities from 1994 to 1998 using the NHTSA FARS database, concluding that
...adult urban cyclists now constitute the dominant modality among bicycle traffic fatalities in general, and that nighttime fatalities comprise at least half the problem in this class. This is out of all proportion to the amount of urban cycling actually being done at night, and strongly suggests more attention needs to be given to the entire nighttime bicycle conspicuity problem.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (PDF)
8 cyclist fatalities in Massachusetts in 1998, 1.30 per million population, less than half the national average of 2.82/million
Bicycle-Motor Vehicle Accidents in the Boston Metropolitan Region (1979 and 1980)
The Boston Area Bicycle Coalition helped Wendy Plotkin and Anthony Komornick, Jr. of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council with this study, so I know how much work it took. Individual crash reports had to be sought out in the records of each town's police department. Of the 432 accidents studied, 17.6% were caused by a motorist's unexpected turn, 16,4% by a bicyclist riding out from midblock (this is a typical youth accident), 15.7% by a motorist turn/merge/drive through/drive-out, 9.5% by a cyclist going through a stop sign or red light, 8.8% by a cyclist unexpectedly turn, 8.3% by a motorist overtaking (forcing a cyclist off the road), and 26% by "other". There are a lot more statistics in this report, which has never been duplicated in Massachusetts, to my knowledge, though it is possible that Cambridge, for example, has been studied by its bike committee.

Thanks to John Allen for scanning in this report and putting it on the Web.
Former MassBike President and current LAB Board Member John Allen has more accident studies online.

Former MassBike president, Paul Schimek, has also written a good summary of crash cause research.

Is Cycling Dangerous?
Cyclist Ken Kifer uses statistics from a variety of reliable sources to show that bicycling is not as dangerous as people often think it is. I think his number of cyclists is a bit optimisitic, and that makes the fractional risk a bit too small in some cases, but overall he makes a good argument that cycling is not that risky. Sadly, Ken was killed by a drunken driver in September 2003 while he was bicycling.

[JackL]

I only posted this to illustrate what the media is feeding the general public. As I recall Paul_S posted some stats that showed quading was one of the safest hobbies out there.

[AintSkeered]

Let's ban food for children, too.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/spotlite/choking.htm

[Miami450R]

WOW those people are retarded.




Im always going to ride. thats all im going to say.

[UncleRico]

I wish the legislature would get off their butz and ban CHILDREN!


They're too dangerous and ruin it for the rest of us.

[Miami450R]

ahahah

good thing im 16

got my license yesterday

[JackL]

I wish the legislature would get off their butz and ban CHILDREN!


They're too dangerous and ruin it for the rest of us.

Finally an idea worth considering!

[KB]

I do remember reading PaulS post about the statistics, the only thing I can say is theres probably more than twice maybe 3 times the amount of ATV's out now than say 15 yrs. ago so of course theres gonna be more people riding them & sometimes getting hurt.
Same w/ bicycles & skateboards.
Maybe some of these kid's riding at a young age are developing motor skills sooner which is making them better automobile drvers, which is saving other peoples lives, why wait untill they turn 16 to be able to ride a quad IDK. I don't get it.
You can't ride a quad untill your 16 but when your 18 you can do whatever the hell you wan't, that makes cents.

Thats the idea, keep them off quads then they might find(especially the one's living in more rural areas) other "recreational" activities to participate in then they could get in trouble & the states can get a check from them every month & spend more $$ on "the fight against drug's".
Sorry about my ranting here but I'd rather see a kid get hurt/hooked on anything except drugs, which is becoming way more of a problem nowaday's than riding a quad, IMO.

Let them ride !

[Paul_S]

Maybe some of these kid's riding at a young age are developing motor skills sooner which is making them better automobile drvers, which is saving other peoples lives, why wait untill they turn 16 to be able to ride a quad IDK. I don't get it.

We should try to highlight this point. 

[JackL]

You're less likely to be injured riding an ATV than riding a bicycle, playing baseball, basketball or football, says U.S. study

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) quietly released a study in the fall of 2002 that shows, on a per capita basis, ATV-related injuries were lower than most other recreational activities. The injury statistics were gathered through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which compiles statistics from a sampling of 99 hospitals, including children's hospitals.

The statistics revealed the estimated rate of product-use related injuries was 201.0 for bicycles and accessories, and 73.9 for ATVs (all figures are per 100,000 population in the U.S. and territories). Other recreational activities had the following rates – baseball, softball 106.9; football 147.3; and basketball 232.3.

The statistics refute many false perceptions regarding ATV rider safety. Although the figures may surprise some, many people who ride and use ATVs regularly agree the study confirms their experience.

The ATV industry points to the extensive ongoing promotion of rider safety as an important factor for improving user safety. The Canadian All-Terrain Vehicle Distributors Council (CATV) is a national not-for-profit trade association and has played a leading role in promoting the safe and responsible use of ATVs across Canada.

"Our goal is to promote safe and responsible ATV use and the CPSC report encourages us to continue our efforts" says Robert Ramsay, President of the CATV. "We want every ATV rider, every time they are on the trail, to have an enjoyable and safe experience."




I doubt much has changed.

[BIGREDTIDE]

Good call!  Younger kid's / teenager aren't always mature/responsible enough....then combine that with most being unsupervised....there's gonna be incidents.

Like in sports...some kid's just don't have the talent to participate or be good enough...so to speak...although sports s/b just for fun.  Same with riding atv's/motorcycles.

[KB]

Good call!  Younger kid's / teenager aren't always mature/responsible enough....then combine that with most being unsupervised....there's gonna be incidents.

Like in sports...some kid's just don't have the talent to participate or be good enough...so to speak...although sports s/b just for fun.  Same with riding atv's/motorcycles.

I've heard a few stories right here in FL. where a young kid or even in High School has dropped dead right on the field.
Please don't get me wrong, I think sports/riding are great for kid's, it builds there confidence, self-esteem, stamina, keep's them from hangin w/ the wrong crowd, & just over all a healthier person which in turn is saving our Country a lot of $$.

Let kids be kids, let them ride !
If we don't there gonna stay inside playing ATV Furry & on the computer turning into a bunch of overweight sissy's getting bored & maybe find somethin else to get hooked on then we'll really only have a few good men to send to fight for U.S.
I'm imagining Pookie from that movie(I think it's called New Jack City) going over sea's to fight for us, that'll be somethin, before Boot camp we can pay for them to go to Detox, then off to Boot Camp.

[BIGREDTIDE]

Okay...who know's what age s/b the "legal" age....16 seems a bit high to me...but they (regulators/governing parties) are prolly mirroring the age 16 with driving autos.

YES....children s/b BANNED from riding large ATV's...PERIOD.  They cannot handle them when things go wrong. 

That's why they make entry level atv's 150cc and smaller....so they can learn and get experience.  But some parents don't even see it that way.   

In today's society...we have an inch, but we want a mile.  Truth is we don't control what we have already!  That's why the government steps in.

[BIGREDTIDE]

I only posted this to illustrate what the media is feeding the general public. As I recall Paul_S posted some stats that showed quading was one of the safest hobbies out there.

When ridden by mature, responsible adults (both young & old)!   

[BIGREDTIDE]

Good call!  Younger kid's / teenager aren't always mature/responsible enough....then combine that with most being unsupervised....there's gonna be incidents.

Like in sports...some kid's just don't have the talent to participate or be good enough...so to speak...although sports s/b just for fun.  Same with riding atv's/motorcycles.

I've heard a few stories right here in FL. where a young kid or even in High School has dropped dead right on the field.
Please don't get me wrong, I think sports/riding are great for kid's, it builds there confidence, self-esteem, stamina, keep's them from hangin w/ the wrong crowd, & just over all a healthier person which in turn is saving our Country a lot of $$.

Let kids be kids, let them ride !
If we don't there gonna stay inside playing ATV Furry & on the computer turning into a bunch of overweight sissy's getting bored & maybe find somethin else to get hooked on then we'll really only have a few good men to send to fight for U.S.
I'm imagining Pookie from that movie(I think it's called New Jack City) going over sea's to fight for us, that'll be somethin, before Boot camp we can pay for them to go to Detox, then off to Boot Camp.

Oh believe me...I agree w/let 'em ride....but not small/undersized children riding 500cc 4wd's or bigger...or even a little smaller.  Not to say that some lil squirts can't ride 'em cause they can!  ...but they shouldn't be on them, cause when they do get into trouble...they physically & mentally don't react them same as responsible adults.

[BIGREDTIDE]

It's like this....we responsible adults can wreck a large, or even small atv.  IF we are riding crazy, and beyond our own, or even the atv's capability...right? 

Cause prolly 9 outta 10 of us ride much harder & faster than what the atv's are designed/made for....except maybe for the sport atv's.

Parents/adults are going to continue to let children too young & inexperienced ride atv's too large & powerful for them....lets hope at least they teach them & supervise them.  We all know...you let kids outta sight....they're gonna push the limit.  We older folks know this...we've lived through it ourselves...remember? 

[JackL]

In today's society...we have an inch, but we want a mile.  Truth is we don't control what we have already!  That's why the government steps in.

The way I see it, the government is way to far into our lives as it is. It is very unlikely you will ever read about my daughter as an atv statistic. If more parents would take responsibility for their children, and not try to find a way to keep them busy and out of their hair, the world would be a better place IMO.

[JackL]

It's like this....we responsible adults can wreck a large, or even small atv.  IF we are riding crazy, and beyond our own, or even the atv's capability...right? 

Cause prolly 9 outta 10 of us ride much harder & faster than what the atv's are designed/made for....except maybe for the sport atv's.

Parents/adults are going to continue to let children too young & inexperienced ride atv's too large & powerful for them....lets hope at least they teach them & supervise them.  We all know...you let kids outta sight....they're gonna push the limit.  We older folks know this...we've lived through it ourselves...remember? 

This is a dangerous sport/hobby any way you look at it. Trying to hope the government will come up with a way to raise and teach your kids is crazy. Might as well make bicycles 16 and older as well...

[BIGREDTIDE]

In today's society...we have an inch, but we want a mile.  Truth is we don't control what we have already!  That's why the government steps in.

The way I see it, the government is way to far into our lives as it is. It is very unlikely you will ever read about my daughter as an atv statistic. If more parents would take responsibility for their children, and not try to find a way to keep them busy and out of their hair, the world would be a better place IMO.

I agree...and think they are doing so only because society doesn't take much responsibility anymore.  Kids are having kids nowadays.  Very, very few...have mature enough to raise them....so it's only getting worse for society.

They step (sometimes...) because there is a problem.  Our (atv) problem is children/young adults dying because of being on atv's much too big.

Personally, I think they should charge the parents.  Atv's don't kill nobody.

[BIGREDTIDE]

It's like this....we responsible adults can wreck a large, or even small atv.  IF we are riding crazy, and beyond our own, or even the atv's capability...right? 

Cause prolly 9 outta 10 of us ride much harder & faster than what the atv's are designed/made for....except maybe for the sport atv's.

Parents/adults are going to continue to let children too young & inexperienced ride atv's too large & powerful for them....lets hope at least they teach them & supervise them.  We all know...you let kids outta sight....they're gonna push the limit.  We older folks know this...we've lived through it ourselves...remember? 

This is a dangerous sport/hobby any way you look at it. Trying to hope the government will come up with a way to raise and teach your kids is crazy. Might as well make bicycles 16 and older as well...

Not if they are ridden responsibly...I think.  Only when you start to exceed rider/machine limits do crashed occur. 

Bicycles are powered by humans own power....  

We best be glad they're trying....cause some parents aren't.  My opinion is atv's will be banned eventually.    ...unless things change.  Just my 2 cents.   

[BIGREDTIDE]

I'm taking a break...my spelling is suffering.   

[KB]

I see your point about kids too small on a big ATV & I agree, UNLESS you turn that screw in on the thumb throttle to govern it down,
IMO it shouldn't go by age, but by height & size like at Disney you gotta be so tall to ride the roller coaster or whatever.
Some kids are pretty big for there age.

[JackL]

Not if they are ridden responsibly...I think.  Only when you start to exceed rider/machine limits do crashed occur. 

This just isn't true. I just read a story where a farmer who has ridden most of his life was climbing an embankment as he had done 1000 times before, had it flip on top of him and nearly drown him. I have seen dozens of stories very similar, and have had many close calls my self not doing anything crazy. You have a Big Red, you must have had a few yourself!!

Bicycles are powered by humans own power....  

That doesn't stop them from killing and injuring children every day. More than ATV's in fact.

We best be glad they're trying....cause some parents aren't.  My opinion is atv's will be banned eventually.    ...unless things change.  Just my 2 cents.   

I would have laughed at this in 1985, but now I don't know....I think there is so many out there at this point it doesn't matter, and the manufacturers have quite a bit of juice now. It ain't poor old Honda fighting alone.


If they want to pass a law, it should involve stiff penalty's for irresponsible parents IMO.

I see your point about kids too small on a big ATV & I agree, UNLESS you turn that screw in on the thumb throttle to govern it down,
IMO it shouldn't go by age, but by height & size like at Disney you gotta be so tall to ride the roller coaster or whatever.
Some kids are pretty big for there age.

That is a good point.

[BIGREDTIDE]

I see your point about kids too small on a big ATV & I agree, UNLESS you turn that screw in on the thumb throttle to govern it down,
IMO it shouldn't go by age, but by height & size like at Disney you gotta be so tall to ride the roller coaster or whatever.
Some kids are pretty big for there age.

See your point...but what about maturity level?  Just like sports....some big boys or girls...but they aren't any good.  (That sounds mean I know..... )

[BIGREDTIDE]

Not if they are ridden responsibly...I think.  Only when you start to exceed rider/machine limits do crashed occur. 

This just isn't true. I just read a story where a farmer who has ridden most of his life was climbing an embankment as he had done 1000 times before, had it flip on top of him and nearly drown him. I have seen dozens of stories very similar, and have had many close calls my self not doing anything crazy. You have a Big Red, you must have had a few yourself!!

Bicycles are powered by humans own power....  

That doesn't stop them from killing and injuring children every day. More than ATV's in fact.

We best be glad they're trying....cause some parents aren't.  My opinion is atv's will be banned eventually.    ...unless things change.  Just my 2 cents.   

I would have laughed at this in 1985, but now I don't know....I think there is so many out there at this point it doesn't matter, and the manufacturers have quite a bit of juice now. It ain't poor old Honda fighting alone.


If they want to pass a law, it should involve stiff penalty's for irresponsible parents IMO.

I see your point about kids too small on a big ATV & I agree, UNLESS you turn that screw in on the thumb throttle to govern it down,
IMO it shouldn't go by age, but by height & size like at Disney you gotta be so tall to ride the roller coaster or whatever.
Some kids are pretty big for there age.

That is a good point.

Not if they are ridden responsibly...I think.  Only when you start to exceed rider/machine limits do crashed occur. 

This just isn't true. I just read a story where a farmer who has ridden most of his life was climbing an embankment as he had done 1000 times before, had it flip on top of him and nearly drown him. I have seen dozens of stories very similar, and have had many close calls my self not doing anything crazy. You have a Big Red, you must have had a few yourself!!  These are very rare cases.  I never said it couldn't happen...just not likely.

[BIGREDTIDE]

Not if they are ridden responsibly...I think.  Only when you start to exceed rider/machine limits do crashed occur. 

This just isn't true. I just read a story where a farmer who has ridden most of his life was climbing an embankment as he had done 1000 times before, had it flip on top of him and nearly drown him. I have seen dozens of stories very similar, and have had many close calls my self not doing anything crazy. You have a Big Red, you must have had a few yourself!!

Honestly...I haven't on the Big Red.  Being it's old I kinda just slow ride on it to take care of it.  Now when I went to Durhamtown in March and did the ATV Iron Man race...I pushed the heck outta that trike, and it has NO BRAKES.  Closest call I had was it was muddy and went to turn into a corner and with all the mud...there was no traction...so I'm turned left and I keep going straight and into a 14" wide pine tree.  I simply downshifted twice and it slowd me enough to where I tapped it.    ...only put a small bend into the front rack.  I'm 35 and been riding 3-wheelers since I was 14.  I consider myself very experienced.

In this case....I was pushing beyond the Big Red's limits...even though factors like mud & no brakes led to tapping the tree.  I was ready & prepared for when it happened.  That's maturity and experience that most young riders wouldn't have.

To note...I was pushing the Big Red beyond what it was designed for but not overly so....becuase it has no brakes and the lack of traction out there that day.

I grew up on an '84 110....with no brakes too!    it's not really funny...but I rode the heck outta that thing...never onced wrecked it...few close calls....but again!..that was when riding over it's limit's.

Appreciate your maturity in back & forth online conversation.     You too KB!   

[KB]

This just isn't true. I just read a story where a farmer who has ridden most of his life was climbing an embankment as he had done 1000 times before, had it flip on top of him and nearly drown him. I have seen dozens of stories very similar, and have had many close calls my self not doing anything crazy.

Jack, There is probably way more farmers killed on Tractors than ATV's, & just about most Farmers prob have ATV's, I'd say at least 2/3 do.

My Great Uncle was when he was bush hogging around his pond & got a little to close to the edge & the Tractor rolled & pinned him under the water,
the most craziest thing about it is that his son(my Uncle), fixed the Tractor, inherited the land & developed it & built custom houses on it. This land is in Morgan City in North AL.
My Uncle got to close to the mountain edge/cliff with the same tractor while he was bush hogging it & the same Tractor flipped over & killed him !
Now my cousins have the land but I think they left the Tractor at the bottom of the cliff.

[JackL]

Honestly...I haven't on the Big Red.  Being it's old I kinda just slow ride on it to take care of it.  Now when I went to Durhamtown in March and did the ATV Iron Man race...I pushed the heck outta that trike, and it has NO BRAKES.  Closest call I had was it was muddy and went to turn into a corner and with all the mud...there was no traction...so I'm turned left and I keep going straight and into a 14" wide pine tree.  I simply downshifted twice and it slowd me enough to where I tapped it.    ...only put a small bend into the front rack.  I'm 35 and been riding 3-wheelers since I was 14.  I consider myself very experienced.

I like you! I'm 38 and got my first Yamaha 80 dirt bike at 8 from someones trash on bulk day. It had no brakes or a clutch cable. How i never broke the tranny is anyones guess. To be honest, I had a few spills on it (no helmet either) BUT I hurt myself bad jumping my 'Stroker' human powered bike over a huge drainage ditch. I got a green atc90 when I was 14 and it was serious junk, but it never hurt me at all. I have a crazy no brakes 200s I ride once in a while now. I also have a scary fast ATC250R that does have brakes and I wear a helmet with it. Anyone who has ridden with me will tell you I am not kind to my bikes, and most often have the throttle wide open.

In this case....I was pushing beyond the Big Red's limits...even though factors like mud & no brakes led to tapping the tree.  I was ready & prepared for when it happened.  That's maturity and experience that most young riders wouldn't have.

To note...I was pushing the Big Red beyond what it was designed for but not overly so....becuase it has no brakes and the lack of traction out there that day.

I grew up on an '84 110....with no brakes too!    it's not really funny...but I rode the heck outta that thing...never onced wrecked it...few close calls....but again!..that was when riding over it's limit's.

Appreciate your maturity in back & forth online conversation.     You too KB!   

I really think some people just don't belong on bikes and quads period. You must have known some like that, no law will ever change that!!
The parents should identify this right away or survival of the fittest will. You see people all the time you just know are going to hurt themselves, I know I do. I always think it is funny when someone on a quad asks me "aren't those things illegal" or tells me "Those aren't safe" They are usually the ones that are the most unstable riders that might as well go play a good game of Russian Roulette, it would be safer IMO.

Just crossing the street is dangerous. The law about not running people over hasn't changed that.

I also appriciate you maturity in this exchange, and not yelling at me about helmets and stuff.

[JackL]

Jack, There is probably way more farmers killed on Tractors than ATV's, & just about most Farmers prob have ATV's, I'd say at least 2/3 do.

My Great Uncle was when he was bush hogging around his pond & got a little to close to the edge & the Tractor rolled & pinned him under the water,
the most craziest thing about it is that his son(my Uncle), fixed the Tractor, inherited the land & developed it & built custom houses on it. This land is in Morgan City in North AL.
My Uncle got to close to the mountain edge/cliff with the same tractor while he was bush hogging it & the same Tractor flipped over & killed him !
Now my cousins have the land but I think they left the Tractor at the bottom of the cliff.

WOW, that really sucks. Heavy equipment is definitely a killer! Up the street from my house just a few years ago when they were wrecking a great riding spot for custom homes, the crane operator digging a lake somehow flipped it into the lake, got pinned and drowned. Growing up in Broward I have read about it hundreds of times. Tractors and front end loaders are the worst. I wonder why we never see a call to ban new construction, heavy equipment, farming or force builders to use shovels and hand tools...

[BIGREDTIDE]

I do all my fast crazy riding on 2 wheels now.  Track riding the sportbike...in FULL protective gear of course!!  Hence my avatar pic @ JGP in Jennings, FL.   

[JackL]

I do all my fast crazy riding on 2 wheels now.  Track riding the sportbike...in FULL protective gear of course!!  Hence my avatar pic @ JGP in Jennings, FL.   

Nice! I have my eye on a cr500R. Probably buy a chest protector for that.

[JackL]

Looks like I was wrong.

This doesn't change my opinion about parental responsibility, plus the numbers are so close it definitely supports a ban on both bicycles AND quads if you want to get right down to it.



Study: More kids die on ATVs than bikes
09:00 PM CDT on Monday, August 6, 2007
Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Children under the age of 16 are seven times more likely to ride bicycles than all-terrain vehicles, yet ATVs cause more deaths among youngsters than their peddling counterparts, according to a new study.

Jim Helmkamp, who tracks ATV statistics as director of West Virginia University's Injury Control Research Center, found that on average, 171 children died each year across the country in ATV accidents between 2000 and 2004, compared to 157 deaths from bicycle crashes.

Statistics from the National Sporting Goods Association estimate 14.2 million children ages 7-17 ride bicycles in the United States while the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says there are about 2.2 million ATV riders under the age of 16.

The study was commissioned by the Concerned Families for ATV Safety, an organization founded in 2005 by parents who lost children in ATV accidents.

One of the founders, Carolyn Anderson of Brockton, Mass., said that for years, the ATV industry and Consumer Product Safety Commission have claimed ATVs and bicycles are comparable when they are not.

"They (industry) say ATVs aren't any more dangerous than a bicycle but we just wanted to put that to rest, for one, and to show that there is a significant problem and it's costing everybody," Anderson said.

Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said some people have made the comparison, but the commission does not.

"We share the same commitment as concerned parents for ATVs to reduce the number of deaths and injuries," Wolfson said.

The commission estimates there are 7.6 million four-wheel ATVs in use in the United States. Details: http://www.atvsafetynet.org/.

[cheropride]

As a parent, I will say, 171 deaths in a year is a lot.  I would also say, I see alot of irresponsible parents too, like it was said earlier, ATVS are not baby sitting devices.  But also as a parent I will also say, there is an inherit risk and yes, sometimes it scares the hell out of me.  I am not so worried about my son's driving abilities, as I am about the nit-wits that like to fly around corners and pay no respect for others.  It is a decission that I make as a parent to allow my son to ride, and at the same time, I take all the necessary precautions to keep him safe and that includes conitnues reminders of how to ride safe.  When we come up on a trail, and I see the opportunity to teach him something, like how to go thru a mud hole safely, or how to take a rough trail, I will stop and talk to him about it. 

I often wonder if they had these stats when I was a child.  I started riding horses when I was 3 years old, and by 6 years old I running barrels.  Back then, no helmets, and when we did ride usually no saddle.  Knowinig the inherit risk of both sports, I think I would rather him ride an ATV than a horse.  I horse has a mind of it own, it can be spooked, or anything.  I can't count the times I have been either thrown or fallen of a horse.  I have actually been knocked out cold a time or two, and have had then fall over right on top of me.  Yes, I was lucky, and yes my horses were my baby sitter.  I guess what I am try to say, there is risk in all we do, we must take the appropriate precautions and go from there.  I honestly feel that you are more likely to get killed driving down I-95 to get to the camp, then once I get on my 4 wheeler, but that is just my opinion.....

[papahouse]

This new report contradicts the one claiming a rise

New Consumer Product Safety Commission Report Shows Decline in ATV Injuries Involving Youth Under Age 16

ATV Industry Continues to Support State Legislation, Rider Training/Education, and Parental Supervision as Keys to Further Improving ATV Safety

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A report released last week by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC 2005 Annual Report of ATV Deaths and Injuries”) shows that the number of estimated all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injuries involving children under 16 fell 10% between 2004 and 2005, and has fallen from 37% of all ATV-related injuries in 1998 to 30% in 2005.

The report also shows that the estimated injuries per 10,000 ATVs declined for the fourth year in a row and is now at its lowest point since 1998. These declines have occurred even while the number of four-wheel ATVs in use increased by 700,000 units between 2004 and 2005. The four-wheel ATV injury rate declined 9% over the same time period.

Further, the report indicates that the risk of fatality per 10,000 ATVs has declined from 1.4 per 10,000 in use in 1999 to 1.1 per 10,000 in use in 2005.

Since 1998, the number of ATVs in use has more than doubled. Yet, for the eight-year time period since the CPSC’s new injury sample and methodology has been in place, there has been no appreciable upward trend in injury risk and, as noted, the injury risk has declined since 2001 and is now at its lowest point since 1998.

“The CPSC report again shows that the commitment of the member companies of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America to rider education, parental supervision, and state legislation is working and has resulted in a continued decline in injury and fatality rates over the past several years,” said Tim Buche, president of the SVIA. “Since 1984, the major manufacturers and distributors of ATVs in the United States have worked closely with the CPSC to implement ongoing safety initiatives. The industry applauds CPSC’s recent public education efforts to promote safe and responsible ATV use, and has supported the agency in these efforts.”

Buche added that the industry is also cooperating closely with the CPSC on the agency’s review of ATV safety standards. He said the ATV industry is committed to the safety of its customers and will continue to promote and enhance its multi-tiered efforts aimed at increasing awareness of the proper operation and use of ATVs.

“However, we remain concerned that new entrants to the U.S. market that don’t comply with the voluntary safety standards that established ATV companies adhere to are jeopardizing the safety of young riders,” he continued. “These new entrants now comprise 20 percent of the market and are undercutting the safety programs developed by established ATV companies. SVIA encourages CPSC to analyze the new entrants’ compliance with safety standards as part of the agency’s review of ATV standards.

“We want to ensure that the injury trend continues in this direction – down – so it’s more important than ever to get the word out that kids don’t belong on adult-sized ATVs, and that all riders need to follow the industry’s recommended guidelines for safe and responsible riding. The bottom line is, even one crash or injury is one too many,” said Buche.

Millions of Americans operate ATVs safely and responsibly every day. Unfortunately, more than 92% of ATV-related fatalities involve one or more behaviors that the industry strongly and visibly warns against in its rider education programs, in all its literature, and on the vehicle itself. The industry’s top priority is to continue to work with the CPSC, user groups, retail dealerships, and all others interested in promoting ATV safety to further reduce the number of accidents resulting from misuse of the product.

SVIA

Since 1983, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America® (SVIA) has promoted the safe and responsible use of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) through rider training programs, public awareness campaigns, and state legislation. The SVIA also serves as a resource for ATV research, statistics, and vehicle standards. The SVIA, based in Irvine, California, is a not-for-profit trade association sponsored by Arctic Cat, BRP, Bush Hog, Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki, Polaris, Suzuki, Tomberlin and Yamaha. For membership information, call 949.727.3727; for safety information or to enroll in the ATV RiderCourseSM nearest you, visit www.atvsafety.org and click on “Online Enrollment” or call 800.887.2887.

[papahouse]

The question you have to ask yourself is who is right, a group headed by someone that lost a child in a ATV accident or The Consumer Protection Agency. Any report needs to be non biais but I do not believe that to be the case with the report indicating the rise and calling for the ban

[cheropride]

Hey papahouse, thanks for that report, and yes like you said, always must consider the source.

The song that kept running thru my head when I was typing, "We were born to mothers who smoke & drank....", ya, know "It was a Different World"....  So true, so true.....

[JackL]

The question you have to ask yourself is who is right, a group headed by someone that lost a child in a ATV accident or The Consumer Protection Agency. Any report needs to be non biais but I do not believe that to be the case with the report indicating the rise and calling for the ban

Papahouse, thanks for posting that. When I posted that new story this morning, I had written a paragraph about how you can do just about anything with statistics to make you sound right, but I didnt want to come off like I was trying to avoid saying I was wrong.

I believe both stories have an agendas behind them, The SVIA, based in Irvine, California, is a not-for-profit trade association sponsored by Arctic Cat, BRP, Bush Hog, Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki, Polaris, Suzuki, Tomberlin and Yamaha. but the numbers don't lie. Bicycles are nearly as dangerous, I'm sure each year it could go any way, and more research would probably reveal even more dangerous things. Trying to ban ATV's for children is absurd as banning bicycles IMO.
When it comes time to vote, I hope everyone really speaks up about this.