New Study Highlights Dangers of Young Riders on ATVs
A group of emergency medicine doctors and researchers have conducted a study showing that young riders don’t have the physique to control adult-sized ATVs.
Researchers from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Saint Francis Medical Center, Bradley University; and the Neurological Institute sought to measure how the physical characteristics of riders, including height, weight, and other factors, influenced their ability to safely control the ATV and avoid ejection. Researchers tested two ATVs to measure a rider’s body position in three maneuvers associated with crashes.
The study, published in the November issue of Neurosurg Focus, concluded:
“Individuals with light weights and small wingspans, such as those in the pediatric population, are under considerable risk of injury when operating an ATV due to lateral, longitudinal, and vertical operational instability.”
The researchers cited the deadly toll ATVs have taken over a five year period, from 1997 to 2001, with injuries outpacing the increase in ATV use by a considerable margin. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission study, the number of ATV riders increased 36 percent; the total number of riding hours went up 50 percent; and the number of ATVs in use rose 40 percent. However, injuries, as measured by emergency room visits, shot up 109 percent.
These injuries occur disproportionately in riders less than 16 years old. The study’s authors point out that children in this age-set make up only 17 percent of all ATV riders, but account for 31 percent of injuries and 26 percent of fatalities in 2001.
Since 2009, the importation and sales of three-wheeled ATVs was banned and manufacturers have been required by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to file and implement voluntary action plans. These plans include commitments to provide safety information and guidelines regarding the appropriate age for child and adult-sized machines. The manufacturers also consented to instruct dealers not to market adult machines to child riders and conduct under-cover monitoring to ensure that dealers are complying.
“As demonstrated by our testing, ATV rider stability and safety are also based on rider wingspan and weight, which may not be adequately addressed in the new top speed–related age requirements. Based on our findings, we recommend that ATVs designed for children should have both size and weight limitations for riders included as a stratification measure.”
For more information on the study visit: http://www.safetyresearch.net/2011/11/15/young-riders-not-big-or-heavy-enough-to-ride-atvs/
