Kids' ATV Death Rate Up, Study Says
Recent 24 Percent Rise Renews Calls For Restrictions, Ban On Use By Anyone Under 16
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Child ATV Deaths On The Rise
Consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen reports on the dangers of allowing kids to ride All Terrain Vehicles built for adults.
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Parent On ATV Safety
Harry Smith speaks with Carolyn Anderson, whose son's death caused her to the co-found a group called Concerned Families For ATV Safety.
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(CBS/The Early Show)
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The industry insists voluntary safety standards already in place are working.
Concerned Families for ATV Safety says the report, being released Tuesday by West Virginia University's Injury Control Research Center, shows a 24 percent jump, to an average of 171 a year, in deaths of kids using ATVs from 2000-2004, about the same time during which the industry has been policing itself with its guidelines.
The group says the new findings "for the first time, directly refute that claim. This data clearly shows that the dangers of ATVs are increasing" at an alarming rate.
Carol Ellert Keezer, a co-founder of the group, lost her 12-year-old son, Alex, in an ATV accident.
She told The Early Show consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen she'd never heard of anyone being killed using an ATV, and thought Alex's death was a freak occurrence.
But soon, Keezer found other mothers who had lost children in such mishaps, and they formed Concerned Families for ATV Safety.
For starters, the group is pushing for a federal ban on the sale of adult-size ATVs for use by anyone under 16. In the long run, the group wants a complete ban on ATV use by kids in that age range.
"Warning labels, manuals, and safety courses are not preventing our children from dying," says Keezer, referring to a voluntary safety campaign the industry has in place.
But the industry says the proper use of ATVs is key, and ATV dealers face disciplinary actions from manufacturers if dealers are found selling adult-sized ATVs for use by kids.
The industry says it favors state — not federal — legislation regarding ATV safety.
Among other things, industry spokespeople say mandatory training on ATV use for kids under 16 would help, as would the mandatory use of helmets and protective gear, and mandatory supervision by adults.
The industry asserts it's the way people ride four-wheelers, not a lack of regulation, that leads to accidents, injuries and deaths, and says parents need to make smart decisions about whether or not their kids are physically and mentally ready to handle an ATV.
Keezer says she doesn't think the ATV industry is doing enough to inform parents about the dangers.
And on The Early Show Tuesday, Carolyn Anderson, another co-founder of Concerned families for ATV Safety, told co-anchor Harry Smith the problem centers around "children driving large, powerful machines that are inappropriate for children under the age of 16. They're too dangerous.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics and many other child safety advocates say (ATVs are) too dangerous for children. This study bears that fact out. They're killing and injuring just so many children, they're not safe.
"Children under the age of 16 don't have the judgment skills or common sense required to operate a motor vehicle like that safely. They just don't have the ability to do that."
As for industry claims that mandatory training on ATV use and mandatory adult supervision could minimize risks, Anderson asks rhetorically, "Would you say that your child can operate your Corvette as long as he's had two hours of training? I don't think so."
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The reason for the increase is because of the increase in the number of ATVs being sold and used, which has gone up 2, 3 and 4 times as high in the last 5 years. Compare that with the increase in accidents and you'll find less accidents per riding hour.
ATV use has gone up by up to 600% and more in the last 3-4 years, and this article is trying to say that an increase in 50% in the last 5 years is equal to the accident rate going up.
It's not, it's going down.
I hate liars.
When I was 8 I could drive a farm tractor, when I was 10 I could do just about any work on the farm with a tractor, unsupervised, but I had parents and grand parents that taught me to be responsible, I could also drive a truck and a team of horses.
Do not ban the vehicle, make the parents train and oversee the kid, not only is it good for the kid to learn a skill like that, it is good for the parents to become involved in the training and raising of their children.
Do we need legislation to impose culpability for the manufacutres of the pigskin? My heart aches for the parents who have lost their children, however I will do my own parenting.
We are a family of five and we own four ATV's my three children range in age from 6 to 14 and each of them as well as my wife and I have attended certified ATV safety courses and ALWAYS wear our safety gear when riding. We ride as a family and none of our children ride unsupervised.
It just makes me sick to my stomach to witness the idiots who have no clue about safety and have no regard for the well being of themselves their children and others around them when we go riding in public areas. Each time we go there are small children on over-sized bikes, wearing shorts and tank tops, and no helmets while the "adults" sit around and drink.
These are the people that drive the statistics, those that have no idea of personal responsibility and ruin the day for the rest of us. You are the role model for your children, teach them responsibility and courtesy for others and the rest will follow.
There will be accidents no matter how safe you are in anything you do but if you go into any situation prepared and informed you reduce those chances down to a minimum.
We are a family of five and we own four ATV's my three children range in age from 6 to 14 and each of them as well as my wife and I have attended certified ATV safety courses and ALWAYS wear our safety gear when riding. We ride as a family and none of our children ride unsupervised.
It just makes me sick to my stomach to witness the idiots who have no clue about safety and have no regard for the well being of themselves their children and others around them when we go riding in public areas. Each time we go there are small children on over-sized bikes, wearing shorts and tank tops, and no helmets while the "adults" sit around and drink.
These are the people that drive the statistics, those that have no idea of personal responsibility and ruin the day for the rest of us. You are the role model for your children, teach them responsibility and courtesy for others and the rest will follow.
There will be accidents no matter how safe you are in anything you do but if you go into any situation prepared and informed you reduce those chances down to a minimum.
First and foremost, I am sorry for the parents loss of their children on the ATV segment this morning, and my comments are not meant to be harsh or inconsiderate, but:
1-In several images I noticed CHILDREN riding ATV'S, that were clearly too powerful and large for the "child rider".
2-In several images I noticed that no protective gear was being worn.
3-In several images I noticed that the ATV's were clearly being ridden improperly(no feet on the foot posts, but laying or bracing back on the rack).
4-In several images I noticed kids riding "double".
In my manual, their are pages that plainly speak to these exact instances, telling one not to do them, and my ATV and manual are 21 years old.
5-I would be willing to bet money that no dealership has ever sold an ATV to a child between 5-15 years of age. If they did, I'd like to know A-How the child got to the dealership? B-How he earned the money to pay for it? C- And finally how he or she transported it home?
Do parents govern what TV their young children watch or what movies they may can rent?
Do parents allow young chidren to use drugs or alcohol?
This so called problem with ATV's is totally preventable, but it begins at home and should stay at home.
Don't ask the government to solve what your good common sense or lack thereof should know to do.
Are parents not responsible at all?
I feel sorry for those who have lost children but my real concern is who will stand up for those children who are lost because their parents didn%u2019t take the time to find out about ATVs before letting their children use them. The parents of these children want to blame their tragedy on everyone else when the blame is really their%u2019s.
Had never heard of anyone killed on a atv She didn%u2019t know that they went that fast. I just wonder if She knew that they make helmets, impact jackets & short, boots, chest protectors, eye protection, and more. I have grandkids that all ride. They are all under 14 years old. When they ride I or my son or adult is with them, we don%u2019t always ride but we are there. We must have adult education as a must before we let our kid that we love ride. My grandkids love to ride and I love them please don%u2019t take this away . I have no idea but
how many kids died on a bicycle last year
Thanks Much Tom Hinz
It's also sad that Concerned Families for ATV Safety has chosen to act as a political advocacy organization when it could be using its resources to educate the public about ATV safety.
Here's the blunt truth: losing a child in an ATV-related accident does not make you an expert on ATV safety, no matter how many like-minded people you surround yourself with.
Come on CBS tell the story fronm both sides, what kid of helmet was these kids wearing how much adult supervision, where they riding a machine that was too much for them, My daughter rides with a helmet, chect protector boots etc. she has had education by the dealer and by me her parent and she never rides unsupervised, come on people be parents.
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by atvcrazy2
August 1, 2007 11:23 AM PDT
- My boys have been riding atvs since they were 3. The parent has to take responsibility and teach their kids how to be safe riders. Not pass the blame after wearing blinders. I feel for their loss, as my children are my life. But you have to supervise them at all times and teach them safety first. They always wear their protective gear even if they argue, which they do.They never have access to the bikes when my husband or I are not home. My kids always want faster bigger bikes but that doesn't mean that I buy it for them. Rather than try to ban other children from riding why not educate the parent on the responsibility that comes with owning an atv with children. But isn't that what parenting is, teaching right from wrong. Its so much easier to pass the blame rather than live up to the fact that the mistake was against your better judgment!
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