文章基本信息

标题：CPSC releases ATV injury and exposure study - United States. Consumer Product Safety Commission - All Terrain Vehicle
期刊名称：CPSC Monitor
出版年度：2003
卷号：Feb 2003
出版社：Consumer Alert

CPSC releases ATV injury and exposure study - United States. Consumer Product Safety Commission - All Terrain Vehicle

The joint industry-government study on All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) injuries was released in February. The document is available on CPSC's website, www.cpsc.gov, under "contractor reports."

The study compares the rates of injuries by riders of ATVs from 1997 to 2001, and then compares those results with earlier studies conducted in 1997.

The joint report concludes that the estimated number of ATV-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms rose 104 percent, from 54,700 to 111,700.

At the same time, the number of drivers of ATVs rose from 12 to 16.3 million, a 50 percent increase, and the number of ATVs in use rose from 4 to 5.6 million, a 40 percent increase. (12)

While riders under the age of 16 have a comparable risk of injury to riders over 16, their risk is greater when measured by injuries per riding hours.

The report also cites as a risk factor having less than one year of driving experience. The size of the ATV engine also is a factor, says the report.

"There has been a very large increase, both in absolute and percentage terms, of injuries associated with ATVs with engine sizes 400cc or greater," says the report. There was a large increase in the number of those vehicles and a large increase in risk associated with them.

Not surprisingly, the report found that only a small percentage of ATV drivers in 2001 learned to operate an ATV through a dealer, salesperson or organized training program. Many ATVs were purchased used, rather than through a dealer.

The injury numbers reflect the increase in the number of ATVs in use, more riders, and longer hours of ATV riding, on larger-sized machines.

The results of this study must be disappointing both to ATV enthusiasts and ATV distributors.

Nevertheless, there is clearly a need for the organized ATV groups to promote more extensive training and safer riding techniques. Most of those groups are already engaged in such programs. It looks as though federal regulations did not provide the answers.

(12) "All-Terrain Vehicle 2001 Injury and Exposure Studies," U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Directorate for Epidemiology, January 2003.