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.