CPSC releases ATV injury and exposure study - United States. Consumer Product Safety Commission - All Terrain Vehicle
Author: CPSC Monitor

The joint industry-government study on All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) injuries was released in February. The document is available on CPSC's website, www.cpsc.gov, under "contractor reports."

The study compares the rates of injuries by riders of ATVs from 1997 to 2001, and then compares those results with earlier studies conducted in 1997.

The joint report concludes that the estimated number of ATV-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms rose 104 percent, from 54,700 to 111,700.

At the same time, the number of drivers of ATVs rose from 12 to 16.3 million, a 50 percent increase, and the number of ATVs in use rose from 4 to 5.6 million, a 40 percent increase. (12)

While riders under the age of 16 have a comparable risk of injury to riders over 16, their risk is greater when measured by injuries per riding hours.

The report also cites as a risk factor having less than one year of driving experience. The size of the ATV engine also is a factor, says the report.

"There has been a very large increase, both in absolute and percentage terms, of injuries associated with ATVs with engine sizes 400cc or greater," says the report. There was a large increase in the number of those vehicles and a large increase in risk associated with them.