Group Asks For Youth ATV Ban

[Red Hawk]

Saw this in an article in the North American Hunter Mag.

MORGANTOWN, WV---- On June 5 2003, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) began talks with numberbous emergancy rooms doctors, injury prevention researchers, ATV dealers, ATV riders, consumers saftery advocates and families of victims of ATV-related crashes who testified at a recent CPSC regional public hearing in Morgantown, West Virginia. It was the first of three CPSC hearings held to investigate several claims that were filed by the Consumer Federation of American (CFA), the Blue Water Network and the Natural Trails And Water Collation.
Last August these organizations released a report titled " The ATV Safety Crisis, American' s Children at Risk." Shortly after the group filed a formal petiion with the CPSC, they asked for the banning of ATV use by anyone younger then the age of 16. In addition to the youth ban, they also requested the imp lementation of a number of regulations such as ATV licensing, set performance standards for ATVs and what safetly requirements should be included. The group also proposed implementing a nationwide helmet regulation for ATV users.
The CPSC investigated most of the groups' s demanding and held three seprate hearings on several of the issues. Those opposing the regulations were groups such as the All Terrain Vehicle Association, National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, Blue Ribbon and other industry leaders. The CPSC has the authority to ban ATVs under the Hazardous Substance Act, although the board has a history of working with everyone' s best interest in mind. Hearing attendees noted the ATV user' s viewpoint was represented well by each group and the over all impression is the proposed youth ban isnt expected to pass.
The CFA and the American Academy of Pediatrics have prepared legislation on a state level to seek the proposed youth ban and a ban on ATV use from sunset to sunrise, which would greatly effect the hunting community. The CFA plans to work on a state-by-state basis, and once it finds a state willing to pass any of the proposes bans, it says other will follow. As for press time, there had been no developments in the investigations. For more information on the CPSC hearings, visit www.huntingclub.com and click on the " Featured Links."

[Jorgy]

I' ve always thought it was much easier to not let your kids ride ATV' s if you don' t want them to, then to get a legal proceeding going to have them banned by age.

I am just guessing at this, but my guess is that 90% of all accidents on a 4wheeler can be prevented with actaul adult supervision. I know, I know, it' s such a pain for partents to have to take care of there own kids, I mean, what the hell is government for if it' s not to watch/teach our children.

[vc1111]

I' ve never owned one, never had one for my kids.

But...

There could be some merit to forcing parents to do what a lot of parent will not do...at the expense of their kid' s health.

[Coastie]

I have never been a proponent of legislation aimed at things that common sense says should be done anyway. A recent incident here in GA. is just one example where existing laws were broken and common sense never came into play at all and existing laws had no effect what-so-ever. 5, count them, 5 teenagers were killed and a sixth hospitalized in extremely critical condition when their ATV ran head-on into a vehicle which had crossed into the wrong lane. The driver of the car that hit them was charged with DUI. What 6 kids were doing on a single ATV has never been answered to my satisfaction, what they were doing on a public road has never been asked in public, don' t want to be insensitive you know.
In the mean time seven lives are ruined not to mention the families affected. I wonder what would be gained by having another law which would have been disregarded by evryone involved.

[model722]

Pass laws, pass laws, pass laws, That' s all anyone can seem to do anymore. Has America forgotten what communism was like in Russia. Just what we need is some more bull sh** laws. We don' t enforce the ones we have, so lets make some more.

[logs]

In WI there are laws governing the use of boats, auto/trucks and other motor vehicle and even at what age a person can hunt legally. Why not ATV' s. Same concept different dangerous piece of equipment.



One should note that there is nothing prohibiting the operation for farm tractor or farm equipmnt and it is the highest area of accidents causing death and amputations for children and teenagers other than cars but one has to consider the number of cars compared to farm equipment. My point being the percentage is very high for young people unsupervised to be seriously hurt or injured even when it isn' t just some exspensive toy.

[Zelazny]

VC - Better ban automobiles then, then certainly kill more kids per year than ATV' s ever will. Right ?

[Cougar Mag]

Bad idea. It is not the governments place to take the parents place. I don' t mean to sound insensitive but what is next........the regulating of age of children to learn ride a bike? It sure is a shame when a death or injury happens to a youngster but, how many youths under the age of 16 are killed or severely injured playing organized sports each year?

We in America must realize that accidents happen and we also place manufacturers of all products to produce the safest product we can.

If America decides to regulate every thing........all of our individual freedoms will soon be lost. Sorry, but parenting and responsible behavior will cure most problems.

[Cougar Mag]

Good analogy Zel! Kids get a driver' s license at age 16 and even with driver education.........well, we know all about drivers at that age.

[burniegoeasily]

What needs to be done is the banning of persons under the age of 25 from PWC.