Title Slide

All-Terrain Vehicle Injury Prevention

Injury Free Coalition for Kids

Definition

All-Terrain Vehicles

•ATV’s are 3 or 4 wheeled motorized vehicles first sold in early 1980’s as work and recreational vehicles

•By mid-1980’s, there were >100,000 emergency visits and about 350 deaths associated with ATVs annually

Characteristics

ATV Characteristics

Gasoline powered Knobby tires High center of gravity Engine displacement

50 to more than 500 cm3

May reach speeds of 60-75 MPH Designed for a single rider Designed for off-road use

History

ATV History

•300% increase in emergency department visits from 1983-1986

•Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) intervened in 1988 and 1998

- Banned three-wheeled ATV’s- 10 year consent decree required:

- warning labels- industry voluntary safety standards- nationwide training program- retailers not to sell adult-sized ATVs to children <16 years of

age

Injuries

ATV Injuries

•Since 1997, the number of ATV injuries has more than doubled!

- from 54,700 in 1997- to 111,700 in 2001

•During this time period, use of ATV’s has increased by only about 50%

•Injuries to children increased 57% between 1997 and 2001

Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2003

Common Injuries

Common ATV-related injuries:

Head injuries

Spinal trauma

Abdominal trauma

Abrasions and lacerations

Clavicle/extremity fractures and dislocations

Deaths

ATV Deaths

Deaths occur in:

•Collisions (56% of deaths)- more than half with fixed

object

•Overturns (35% of deaths)- backward more common than

forward

•60% occur on roadways

•Only 1% on ATV trails

Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1998

At risk populations

Population at Risk•Children under 16 years old

constitute:‐14% of all drivers

‐40% of all injuries

‐35% of all ATV-related deaths

•Males are over-represented:‐3 times more likely to experience injury

‐Younger males most at risk

•Most children (95%) are operating vehicles rated for adults

Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1998

Regulations

ATV Regulations

44 states have at least minimal ATV legislation‐ Typical legislation includes

parental supervision for young children, licensing/registration requirements, and bans on riding ATVs on public roads

‐ States without these laws have significantly higher death rates

AJPH, 91: 1792-1795, November 2001

AAP Recommendations

American Academy of Pediatrics

Recommendations, 2000

Pediatrics, 105: 1352-54, June 2000

Education about: • motorcycle helmets• eye protection• protective reflective clothing

AAP, cont’d

American Academy of Pediatrics

Recommendations, 2000Engineering approaches:

• seat belts• roll bars• headlights• speed governors

AAP, cont’d

American Academy of Pediatrics

Recommendations, 2000Legislation regarding:

• helmet use • banning 3 wheelers• requirements for licensing/certification• minimum driver age 16 years• prohibition of alcohol, passengers, and

ATV use at night

Summary

Summary and Recommendations

ATV injuries experienced by children are common and serious

Increased educational efforts are needed to alert parents about risk to children

Advocacy to increase helmet use and other safety behaviors may lead to decreased injuries

Existing laws need enforcement