With the recent recalls of American Suzuki Motor Corporations' QuadSport and KingQuad all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), the debate regarding ATV safety is back in the headlines. First introduced in the United States in the 1970s, all-terrain vehicles have become increasingly popular. With sleek, high-powered models, these vehicles are recreational favorites of the young and the old.
However, safety and fun do not come hand-in-hand. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), nearly 132,000 ATV-related injuries and 376 deaths were reported in 2009. One quarter of those injured and about 16 percent of those killed were children under the age of 16. Because ATVs pose a unique health and safety risk for young Americans, the CPSC and several medical associations have proposed ATV safety recommendations.
In February 2011, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) presented study findings at its annual meeting. In its published report, the AAOS found that multiple spine and associated soft-tissue injuries are common in ATV accidents and that age-related injury patterns do exist. Of the study's 29 subjects, 45 percent sustained multiple spine injuries, and 31 percent had confirmed compression/burst fractures.
Additionally, medical experts agree that there are significant risks associated with ATV use. Juveniles, who might not have the weight and strength to handle ATVs, can become injured as a result of rollovers, striking the ground or hitting fixed objects. While children make up 15 percent of ATV riders, they account for a disproportionate number of deaths and injuries. Other than incurring head injuries and fractures, these young riders may suffer from abdominal injuries and injuries that require amputations.
Regulating All-Terrain Vehicles
Recently, the AAOS and other orthopaedic associations, including the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), have supported the CPSC's efforts to further regulate the use of these recreational vehicles. At present, the CPSC has banned the sale of three-wheel ATVs until an approved standard can be developed and has mandated that a product safety standard be established for four-wheel ATVs.
The CPSC has worked hard to monitor the safety of ATVs sold and operated in the U.S. However, the agency is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products. For the agency to make headway on imposing standards and increasing safety among ATV drivers, support from public health and safety stakeholders is crucial.
