Consumer Federation of America ** Natural Trails & Waters Coaliton
September 26, 2002

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Agrees to Consider Banning Sale of All Terrain Vehicle for Children
Public Interest Groups Urge Quick Action to Save Lives

Washington, D.C. - In a sign that the federal regulators are increasingly concerned about the number of deaths and injuries caused by all -terrain vehicles (ATVs), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) yesterday agreed to consider banning the sale of adult-size ATVs for use by children under sixteen. CPSC took this action in response to a petition filed by nine consumer, public health and conservation groups.

"We applaud the CPSC for taking the growing ATV-safety problem seriously," said Rachel Weintraub, assistant general counsel of the Consumer Federation of America and author of the petition. "This is an important first step on the road to stopping needless deaths and injuries to thousands of children," she said.

The petition, and CPSC's response, follow a August 2002 report¾ATV Safety Crisis: America's Children at Risk¾ released by Consumer Federation of America, Natural Trails and Waters Coalition and Bluewater Network, which documents that the ATV industry's self-regulating approach to safety has led to increasing numbers of injuries and deaths. Between 1993 and 2001, the CPSC estimates that the number of injuries caused by ATVs more than doubled to 111,700. In addition, between 1982 and 2001, 1,714 children under the age of 16 - or 38 percent of the total number of fatalities - were killed while riding ATVs. Of those, 799 were children under age 12. While children under sixteen make up 14 percent of ATV riders, they account for 37 percent of the total number of injuries.

CPSC declined to consider the groups' request that manufacturers be required to offer refunds to consumers who purchased three-wheel ATVs and adult-size four-wheel ATVs for use by children under sixteen years old. Unfortunately, CPSC did not require refunds to be offered when production of highly dangerous "three-wheelers" was banned in 1988. According to CPSC data, three-wheelers still in use caused nearly 12,000 injuries last year that were serious enough to require emergency room treatment. Offering refunds is a critical component in getting unsafe ATVs out of the hands of children.

"The CPSC has taken one step forward and one step back with this decision," said Scott Kovarovics, Director of Natural Trails and Waters Coalition. "While recognizing the severe threat ATVs pose to children under sixteen, CPSC is refusing to consider refunds that would enable parents to better protect their children," he said.

"To not consider refunds will have tragic consequences," Weintraub stated. "Sadly, because CPSC did not address the dangers of four-wheel ATVs when they banned the production of three-wheel ATVs, many consumers mistakenly believe that these products are safe for children. Once informed, parents need recourse. Providing them with refunds is critical to keeping these potentially dangerous vehicles away from children," she continued.

The groups filed the petition urging CPSC action on ATVs on August 20, 2002. These groups included Consumer Federation of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Emergency Physicians, National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses, Center for Injury Research and Policy, U.S. PIRG, Kids in Danger, Danny Foundation, and Bluewater Network.

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Consumer Federation of America is a non-profit association of 300 consumer groups, with a combined membership of more than 50 million people. CFA was founded in 1968 to advance the consumers' interest through advocacy and education. www.consumerfed.org

The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition includes conservation, recreation, hunting and other groups working to protect and restore all public lands and waters from the severe damage caused by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, jet skis and all other off-road vehicles. www.naturaltrails.org

The petition filed with CPSC and the report are available on the web sites mentioned above.

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