upstate rider
11-09-2002, 02:20 PM
With thanks to www.nohvcc.org, here is an article as a reminder of how
recent negative reporting has failed to reveal the relationship of ATV
injury statistics and to the number of ATVs in use. While increased
incidence of injuries on its own is noteworthy, the folks who wish we
would disappear off the face of the earth are not telling the whole
truth of the matter.
- - - - - -
America's Children at Risk Report- Chicago Tribune
(From: By Brian Neale)
Red letters against a black background struck a dramatic tone for the
cover of a recent report by environmental and consumer groups titled: "
All-Terrain-Vehicle Safety Crisis: America's Children at Risk."
The report tracks annual injuries to ATV riders that resulted in an
emergency room visit and shows an increase to 111,700 in 2001 from about
50,000 in 1993. Of those injured last year, 34,800 were younger than 16.
The report says ATVs are getting more dangerous and calls for a ban on
ATV use until a person is 16. But it paints an incomplete picture.
The ATV industry experienced a tremendous boom in the 1990s that
continues today. ATV sales have seen a five-fold increase since 1993 to
more than 700,000 units in 2001. Fifteen million Americans ride
all-terrain vehicles, 70 percent of them as a family activity, according
to Discover Today's ATV, which represents the industry.
In that context, it stands to reason that with more people participating
in the activity, a higher number will be injured. The American
Motorcyclist Association pointed out in a rebuttal that while injuries
doubled, the number of ATVs in use between 1993 and 2001 tripled to
about 7 million, and suggested the sport had become safer.
As with many forms of recreation, from "extreme" activities such as
rock-climbing to more mundane ones such as swimming, riding ATVs poses
risks, which participants are wise to understand and mitigate.
Between 1982 and 2001, 4,541 riders, including 1,714 children, died from
injuries sustained riding ATVs. ATVs come in several types and sizes,
including workhorses with dump beds and trailer hitches, camouflage
trail bikes for hunting, racing models and machines with small engines
meant for children.
Regardless of the bike's purpose, riding safely depends on following the
rules. My issue with the report isn't that it advocates preventing
injuries but rather that it seeks to do so though wide-scale
prohibition.
The report's recommendations may have motives beyond saving lives. Of
the sponsoring groups--the Consumer Federation of America, the Bluewater
Network and the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition--the latter two
aren't concerned primarily with protecting consumers or their rights.
Their desire as environmental advocates to limit access to public lands
by motorized vehicles gives them motive to lend support to reversing the
trend of families riding ATVs.
A more fair and rational approach might seek to address the root causes
of ATV injuries. The non-profit Specialty Vehicle Industry Association,
which promotes safer ATV riding through its ATV Safety Institute,
stresses three rules for riders of any age: getting proper training,
wearing the right gear and riding the appropriately sized vehicle.
Elisabeth Piper, director of corporate affairs for the SVIA, points to
two statistics used in the report to highlight the importance of that
message: Of children younger than 16 injured on ATVs, 95 percent rode
adult-size machines, and Of all injured riders, only 4 percent received
formal training. The numbers indicate much can be done to reduce ATV
injuries and fatalities without denying farm kids the ability to use the
machines to do chores, well-trained riders to compete in sanctioned
events or millions of families the right to use ATVs.
"On one hand, you don't ever want to say that any injury is OK, but to
say that [ATV injuries] have gotten out of control isn't accurate
either," Piper said.
She said since negotiating a consent decree with the Consumer Product
Safety Commission in 1988, in which manufacturers agreed to stop making
three-wheel ATVs, the industry has worked to prevent injuries by
marketing appropriately sized four-wheel ATVs for kids.
Children younger than 12 should not ride an ATV more than 70 cc, and
children younger than 16 should not ride an ATV more than 90 cc.
Manufacturers post the recommendations on all ATVs and require that
dealers inform buyers that children should not ride adult-size vehicles.
Though the agreement expired in 1998, the manufacturers continue to
follow those rules. The ATV Safety Institute goes further by offering
rigorous hands-on training to ATV purchasers. Piper said that when a
customer buys a new ATV from most manufacturers, the dealer sends the
information to the SVIA, which calls to make arrangements for free
training. The courses are offered in more than 1,000 locations and more
than half a million riders have been trained since 1988, including
46,000 in 2001. Attendance this year is running about 12 percent ahead
of last year. Others can take the class for a fee if they haven't
purchased an ATV, but all are required to ride an age-appropriate
machine and wear proper safety gear.
Call 800-887-2887 for class details or to request the booklet "Parents,
Youngsters and ATVs," which includes guidelines for determining whether
a child is ready to ride an ATV. Another pamphlet, "Tips and Practice
Guide for the ATV Rider," has practice exercises.
ATV riders should heed the injury numbers as a wake-up call to improve
their skills and to keep children off adult-size ATVs. Parents can order
a free CD-ROM video game for children that reinforces the rules of safe
riding. Visit www.atvsafety.org or call 877-806-7813.
recent negative reporting has failed to reveal the relationship of ATV
injury statistics and to the number of ATVs in use. While increased
incidence of injuries on its own is noteworthy, the folks who wish we
would disappear off the face of the earth are not telling the whole
truth of the matter.
- - - - - -
America's Children at Risk Report- Chicago Tribune
(From: By Brian Neale)
Red letters against a black background struck a dramatic tone for the
cover of a recent report by environmental and consumer groups titled: "
All-Terrain-Vehicle Safety Crisis: America's Children at Risk."
The report tracks annual injuries to ATV riders that resulted in an
emergency room visit and shows an increase to 111,700 in 2001 from about
50,000 in 1993. Of those injured last year, 34,800 were younger than 16.
The report says ATVs are getting more dangerous and calls for a ban on
ATV use until a person is 16. But it paints an incomplete picture.
The ATV industry experienced a tremendous boom in the 1990s that
continues today. ATV sales have seen a five-fold increase since 1993 to
more than 700,000 units in 2001. Fifteen million Americans ride
all-terrain vehicles, 70 percent of them as a family activity, according
to Discover Today's ATV, which represents the industry.
In that context, it stands to reason that with more people participating
in the activity, a higher number will be injured. The American
Motorcyclist Association pointed out in a rebuttal that while injuries
doubled, the number of ATVs in use between 1993 and 2001 tripled to
about 7 million, and suggested the sport had become safer.
As with many forms of recreation, from "extreme" activities such as
rock-climbing to more mundane ones such as swimming, riding ATVs poses
risks, which participants are wise to understand and mitigate.
Between 1982 and 2001, 4,541 riders, including 1,714 children, died from
injuries sustained riding ATVs. ATVs come in several types and sizes,
including workhorses with dump beds and trailer hitches, camouflage
trail bikes for hunting, racing models and machines with small engines
meant for children.
Regardless of the bike's purpose, riding safely depends on following the
rules. My issue with the report isn't that it advocates preventing
injuries but rather that it seeks to do so though wide-scale
prohibition.
The report's recommendations may have motives beyond saving lives. Of
the sponsoring groups--the Consumer Federation of America, the Bluewater
Network and the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition--the latter two
aren't concerned primarily with protecting consumers or their rights.
Their desire as environmental advocates to limit access to public lands
by motorized vehicles gives them motive to lend support to reversing the
trend of families riding ATVs.
A more fair and rational approach might seek to address the root causes
of ATV injuries. The non-profit Specialty Vehicle Industry Association,
which promotes safer ATV riding through its ATV Safety Institute,
stresses three rules for riders of any age: getting proper training,
wearing the right gear and riding the appropriately sized vehicle.
Elisabeth Piper, director of corporate affairs for the SVIA, points to
two statistics used in the report to highlight the importance of that
message: Of children younger than 16 injured on ATVs, 95 percent rode
adult-size machines, and Of all injured riders, only 4 percent received
formal training. The numbers indicate much can be done to reduce ATV
injuries and fatalities without denying farm kids the ability to use the
machines to do chores, well-trained riders to compete in sanctioned
events or millions of families the right to use ATVs.
"On one hand, you don't ever want to say that any injury is OK, but to
say that [ATV injuries] have gotten out of control isn't accurate
either," Piper said.
She said since negotiating a consent decree with the Consumer Product
Safety Commission in 1988, in which manufacturers agreed to stop making
three-wheel ATVs, the industry has worked to prevent injuries by
marketing appropriately sized four-wheel ATVs for kids.
Children younger than 12 should not ride an ATV more than 70 cc, and
children younger than 16 should not ride an ATV more than 90 cc.
Manufacturers post the recommendations on all ATVs and require that
dealers inform buyers that children should not ride adult-size vehicles.
Though the agreement expired in 1998, the manufacturers continue to
follow those rules. The ATV Safety Institute goes further by offering
rigorous hands-on training to ATV purchasers. Piper said that when a
customer buys a new ATV from most manufacturers, the dealer sends the
information to the SVIA, which calls to make arrangements for free
training. The courses are offered in more than 1,000 locations and more
than half a million riders have been trained since 1988, including
46,000 in 2001. Attendance this year is running about 12 percent ahead
of last year. Others can take the class for a fee if they haven't
purchased an ATV, but all are required to ride an age-appropriate
machine and wear proper safety gear.
Call 800-887-2887 for class details or to request the booklet "Parents,
Youngsters and ATVs," which includes guidelines for determining whether
a child is ready to ride an ATV. Another pamphlet, "Tips and Practice
Guide for the ATV Rider," has practice exercises.
ATV riders should heed the injury numbers as a wake-up call to improve
their skills and to keep children off adult-size ATVs. Parents can order
a free CD-ROM video game for children that reinforces the rules of safe
riding. Visit www.atvsafety.org or call 877-806-7813.