Posted June 2, 2006

Theory vs. Reality

By ATVA Director Doug Morris

Here's a quote from a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) memorandum dated July 14, 2004: "It has long been the position of the CPSC staff that children under the age of 16 do not possess the developmental skills to safely ride adult ATVs."

How many times recently have we heard a television reporter quote something similar?

I don’t know about you, but I think I heard something like this in the mid-’80s during the bashing and demise of three-wheelers. I heard what they said, and disagreed with it for many reasons, but never had the opportunity to argue against it before the CPSC in Washington, D.C., like I have in recent years.

Let’s examine what the CPSC is saying.

The term "adult ATV" applies to any ATV with an engine displacement of more than 90cc regardless of how much over 90cc. Let’s take a look at a few of the current choices of ATVs with displacements of more than 90cc: Yamaha offers the Champ with 100cc, Grizzly 125 and the Blaster 200cc. Honda offers the TRX250 Recon and Sportrax, Kawasaki has the KLF220 Bayou and Suzuki, LT160 Quad Sport.

If you aren't familiar with any of these machines, they aren't large, powerful, full-size ATVs. These are small, light and not very powerful beginner machines. But if you’re under 16, the CPSC believes you don’t have the physical ability or mental capability to operate one.

The CPSC also lumps every person under 16, regardless of size, maturity or experience, into one category. In additional CPSC documents, experts expand on that same comment and say youth aren’t smart enough or physically able to ride machines with displacements of more than 90cc. ATVs and they add "any" size ATV and motorcycles.

Here are some quotes from one study the CPSC used:

Therrell, Brown, Sutterby and Thornton, 2002, Age Determination Guidelines.

"By age 6, most children will have enough balance to ride two-wheeled motorized vehicles, and should be able to ride very slow-moving, child-sized four-wheelers. They generally are able to understand two different controls, although they may not be able to use them at the same time and may be confused by other controls."

When talking about 8-to-11 year olds, the study says:

"They generally do not possess enough skills to successfully balance and steer vehicles moving faster than 10 mph."

More comments from the experts about 12-13 year olds:

"Children in this age group still do not possess the balance and coordination to ride vehicles that travel over 10 mph."

Now, let’s take a look at the real world.

Listen up anti-ATV consumer groups, and hold on to your lawsuit; kids ages 4 to 15 can, and are, riding, and even racing, ATVs larger than 90cc, and motorcycles too!

Shocked? Not me! Millions of families who ride and race together on ATVs and motorcycles every weekend aren’t shocked either. We're out having fun riding with our kids. But remember, the experts say children aren’t smart enough or physically able to do this.

But American Motorcyclist Association youth members (ages 4 to 15) have been racing motorcycles by the thousands, every weekend for decades. This is how today's motorcycle racing champions—like Supercross and motocross stars Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart, got their start.

Riders under 16 are currently racing ATVs with displacements of more than 90cc. They race 200cc two-strokes and 300cc four-strokes, and there is a 50cc class for 4 year olds. This is where our ATV champions of the future are riding now.

This is just a small sampling of how young riders of all ages are riding ATVs. Many more are riding on private property and public riding areas all across the nation.

Riding ATVs isn't for every youth, and ATVs aren't toys. They can be hazardous to operate if you fail to take the proper precautions.

Who stood up to the anti-ATV forces and declared the age/cc guidelines are out of wack? Only one group, the ATVA. At CPSC hearings in Morgantown, West Virginia, the ATVA was the only organization to tell the CPSC like it is. Kids are riding and can ride ATVs over 90cc, and we need to change the age/cc guidelines so young riders can take safety training classes on appropriately sized ATVs.

When youth take training, the whole family gets involved. They all hear the same safety messages and see the skills necessary to operate an ATV.

It does make you wonder if these "experts" ever get out of their offices and into the real world. This is an open invitation to the CPSC and the "experts" to join me and millions of youth riding every weekend, try it, you will have fun.

© 2006, All Terrain Vehicle Association