Since their introduction to the public four decades ago, all-terrain vehicles (ATVS) have become more and more popular. They are very attractive to riders because of the amount of danger, one feels while riding. This danger, however, should not be taken lightly. ATV carry with them a number of security issues that should be concerned by each rider. Despite the ongoing efforts of the ATV to make these safer vehicles, accidents still arrive too regularly.
ATV came originally as a 3 wheel and 4 wheel. He did not long, though, for the industry and the public to be aware of the risk of the 3-wheeler. With no real Center of gravity, the 3-wheeler was an accident occurring in waiting. It was widely assumed that once companies permanently removed 3 - wheeler market, ATV accidents sharply decrease. There was a decrease in the number of deaths and injuries caused by the 4 wheel ATV, quite happened that the safety of the vehicle is always a legitimate concern in the industry. For example, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has revealed that in 2004 alone, there was an injury estimate serious 136 000 to United States which were directly related to mountain bikes. The previous year, 2003, has seen 740 people lose their lives ATV accidents.
The disturbing aspect of this fairly high number of death and attributed to the ATV injuries is that industry and the CPSC has recently agreed on a series of plans of action to improve the safety of the ATC. These action plans constitute an agreement between the industry of the ATC and the CPSC to crack down on several issues that affect the security level of mountain biking. Some of the things that are now required to companies who sell ATVS are labelling and safe commercialization of mountain biking. In addition, the CPSC has been given more say at what age can drive some types of mountain biking. The problem, however, is that a large number of companies that manufacture and distribute ATVS is based in Asia and Italy. Because of their international status, they are not required to comply with the laws of the CPSC. In other words, many companies are ATVS are exempt from any oversight by the Government of the United States.
The inability of the CPSC to control the ATV industry safety, objective guidelines has now changed to the control of the State over the age of riders. Many States have recently adopted a law which specifically governs the use of ATVS on State lands. Some of the factors that States deal with are the ages of riders and the type of engines they use. Many States provide that the use of the machines more than 90cc by riders under the age of 16 years is strictly prohibited.
Those who criticize these general policies regarding the age of the riders claim that these rules do not adequately address the issue. For example, critics contend that many male early teenage are larger and sometimes stronger than the finite adult females. To protect themselves from this line of thinking, some States are simply prohibiting any minors (those under the age of 16) drive ATVS. However, advocates of ATVS, suggest than runners training at an early age to is only to improve security. They argue that children exposed to mountain bikes at an early age will gradually have the expertise to be safe ATV drivers when they reach adulthood.
In 1988, all-terrain vehicle safety Institute (ASI) was formed. This organization aims to address issues of ATV safety by providing training and education for ATV riders. Most States require that new ATV users undergo this type of training. It is one of a series of attempts by the industry and the CPSC to improve the security of mountain biking. The need to provide education for ATV riding and driving increases as the popularity of the sport continues to grow.
