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January Tips of the Month: ATV
The average risk of injury from ATV riding
is high. Over its estimated seven-year life, the average ATV has
a one-in-three chance of being involved in an accident resulting
in injury. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is
still concerned about young people under 16 years of age who are
killed or injured riding adult-sized ATVs. The total cost of
deaths and injuries to young people under the age of 16 amounted
to more than $500 million in 1989. The cost of deaths and
injuries associated with ATV's is about $3,500 per ATV over the
life of the product.
ATVs are not toys
Children under 12 years of age should not operate any ATV. This
is because they lack adequate physical size and strength,
cognitive abilities, motor skills and perception to operate a
motor vehicle safely. ATVs are difficult to ride and require
constant attention to avoid crashes.
Don't let children
under 16 ride adult-size ATVs
Children between the ages
of 12 and 15 should not operate adult-size (greater than 90cc)
ATVs. The risk of injury for 12-15 year old drivers of adult
ATVs is one and one-half to two times the average risk of injury
on ATVs. CPSC has received reports of 168 deaths to children
between 12 and 15 years of age. Most deaths have occurred on
adult-size ATVs.
Take a training course
Inexperienced drivers in their first month of using an ATV have
13 times the average risk of injury. Beginning drivers should
receive a training course from certified instructors, and basic
maneuvers taught in training should be practiced regularly on
safe terrain. Children should ride only under close adult
supervision.
Helmets save lives
According to the CPSC injury survey, three-fourths of the
drivers with head injuries were not wearing an approved helmet.
Without the protection of a helmet the risk of head injury was
twice as high as when the injured person wore a helmet. Over
half of the injured persons had worn no protective equipment,
such as helmets, gloves and heavy boots. Helmets could have
saved the lives of approximately 25 percent of the people who
died from head injuries in ATV crashes.
Do not ride double
ATVs are designed for one driver and no passengers. The presence
of a passenger seriously impairs the driver's ability to shift
weight in order to steer and control the ATV.
No paved roads or
alcohol
According to the CPSC survey almost 10 percent of the injuries
and over 25 percent of the deaths occurred while operating the
ATV on paved roads. These crashes occur because of collisions
with other vehicles and because ATVs are difficult to control on
pavement. In 30 percent of all fatal ATV crashes alcohol was
involved.
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