News
ATVA tells safety panel: Don't ban sale of full-size ATVs for use by kids
March 28, 2005 – The ATVA and American Motorcyclist Association joined forces with the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, the ATV Safety Institute and others to ask the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission to deny a petition to ban the sale of full-sized ATVs for use by children under 16.
At a CPSC public meeting on the issue on March 22 in Bethesda, Maryland, ATVA Director Doug Morris and AMA Legislative Affairs Specialist Royce Wood urged the commission to follow the recommendation of the CPSC staff to reject the petition.
"As your staff notes: 'The CPSC lacks the ability to regulate or enforce how consumers use products after purchase. While the commission can affect to some degree how ATVs are sold, it cannot control the behavior of consumers or prevent adults from allowing children to ride adult-size ATVs.'"
Morris and Wood testified that proper training, the use of safety gear, parental supervision, and allowing children to ride right-size vehicles would do much to reduce ATV-related injuries and deaths involving children under 16.
They also noted that they represent the true consumers of ATVs, and encouraged the commission to seek information from user groups when considering ATV-related matters.
The CPSC staff recommendation to the commission arose from a request made in 2002 by the Consumer Federation of America, Bluewater Network, and the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition. Those groups asked the commission for a ban on all ATV use by those under the age of 16, but the panel said it didn't have the authority to enforce such a ban. The groups also asked the commission to ban the sale of full-sized ATVs for the use of children under 16, which is something the ATV industry already voluntarily does.
After several public hearings held by the commission in various parts of the country, and a thorough review of the testimony and facts by the CPSC staff, the staff on February 2 recommended that the commission reject the request.
It's unknown whether the commission will follow the staff recommendation, or when a decision may be made.
Related story: ATVA applauds government report rejecting ATV ban for kids