The consent agreement between CPSC and the ATV industry settled a complaint filed against the industry under the agency's Section 12 "imminent hazard" clause. The agreement went into effect in 1988 and lasted for ten years. It contained specific safety measures to be observed by ATV manufacturers and distributors. Although the agreement expired in 1998, manufacturers have pledged to continue to abide by its principles.

Some were concerned that a proliferation of small youth-sized ATVs, with increasingly sophisticated capabilities, might result in higher injury rates to young children. But that has not happened. The latest CPSC report on ATV deaths and injuries issued in May 2001, and covering data for the years 1982 through 2000, shows an increase in the number of deaths (up 366 above the 1999 figures). But injuries to children under 16 riding ATVS, although up by 15%, are not occurring on the child-sized ATVs.

Nick Marchica, a mechanical engineer who was one of the prime managers of the ATV investigation at CPSC more than 15 years ago, says that injuries to young children are continuing to occur when they are permitted to ride adult-sized ATVS. Marchica also emphasized the importance of wearing helmets when riding ATVs, no matter what the rider's age. CPSC studies have shown that 85% of severe injuries could have been avoided by wearing protective helmets.

Marchico noted that a voluntary standard for ATVs developed through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) by the ATV industry through its trade association, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) has specific requirements for the youth-sized ATVS.

The requirements primarily deal with braking and speed. There are two categories of youth-sized ATVS, Category Y-6 for children six and over and Y-12 for children 12 and over. The machines are manufactured with speed limiters of about 15 miles per hour for younger children and 30 miles per hour for older children. CPSC staff continually monitors that voluntary standard, and, Marchica says, "for the most part, companies are in conformance."

For more on safety information regarding the use of four-wheelers, see www.ATVsafety.org, or call the ATV Safety Institute at (800) 852-5344."Reprinted with permission of Consumer Alert, publisher of CPSC Monitor, Washington, DC.