|
|
|
There has been growing interest in the topic of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) safety due to the increasing use of ATVs for both recreational and occupational purposes. In response, CSN has produced this special issue of our newsletter, which focuses on ATV safety.
This newsletter issue provides resources for finding data on ATV-related injuries and fatalities, information on ATV safety trainings, programs and strategies for the prevention of ATV-related injuries, safety guidelines for the use of ATVs, and color-coded maps showing which states have legislation on ATV safety. For more information about ATV safety or to receive technical assistance on the prevention of ATV-related injuries, please call CSN at (617) 618-2918. |
| Data |
|
1. 2007 annual report of ATV-related deaths and injuries: A CPSC report
This report, published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), presents the 2007 annual update on ATV-related deaths and ATV-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms.
ATV-related fatalities (8,995 total) included 2,497 children less than 16 years of age (28 percent) and 1,062 under 12 years of age (12 percent).
27 percent of the estimated number of ATV-related, emergency room-treated injuries
involved children less than 16 years of age.
For the years 1985 through 2007, children under 16 represented approximately 35 percent of the total estimated injuries.
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/atv2007.pdf
2. ATV and bicycle deaths and associated costs in the United States, 2000-2005
This study (Helmkamp JC, et al. Public Health Reports. 2009 May-Jun; 124(3):409-18) determined the national rate and costs of recent all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and bicycle deaths.
From 2000 through 2005, 5,204 people died from ATV crashes and 4,924 from bicycle mishaps. A mean of 694 adults and 174 children died annually from ATV injuries, while 666 adults and 155 children died from bicycle injuries. Death rates increased among adult ATV and bike riders and child ATV riders. Males had higher fatality rates for both ATVs and bicycles. Among children, total costs increased 15 percent for ATV deaths and decreased 23 percent for bicycle deaths. In adults, ATV costs increased 45 percent, and bike costs increased 39 percent.
Bicycle- and ATV-related deaths and associated costs are high and, for the most part, increasing. Promotion of proven prevention strategies, including helmet use, is indicated.
CSN will provide copies of the article to state Maternal and Child Health and state public health staff on request: csn@edc.org
3. National hospitalization impact of pediatric all-terrain vehicle injuries
This study (Killingsworth JB, et al. Pediatrics. 2005 Mar; 115(3): 316-21) characterizes the ATV-related patterns of injury, hospital length of stay, and hospital charges, with a nationally representative sample.
An estimated 5,292 children were hospitalized because of ATV-related injuries between 1997 and 2000, and hospitalizations increased 79.1 percent. Rates of ATV-related hospitalization were highest for white adolescent males, consistent with previous studies. Injury severity varied considerably, with more than one third of patients sustaining moderate to severe injuries.
Total hospital charges for these injuries were $74,367,677 for 2 years. Most of the charges were paid by private insurers.
The results of this study show substantial increases in childhood ATV-related injuries and their considerable impact on hospitalizations.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/115/3/e316
4.Children plus all nonautomobile motorized vehicles (not just all-terrain vehicles) equals injuries
This article (Pediatrics. 2007 Jul; 120(1):134-41) describes pediatric nonautomobile motorized vehicle (ATV)-related injuries sustained between 1990 and 2003 and compares ATV-related injuries with other types of nonautomobile motorized vehicle-related injuries. The researchers analyzed data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.
Overall, the number of these injuries increased from 70,500 in 1990 to 130,900 in 2003. Although the majority of injuries were ATV-related, similar increases in injury rates were observed for: 2-wheeled off-road vehicles; 2-wheeled on-road vehicles; and go-carts/buggies.
Most public health and legislative attention to date has been focused on ATVs, with substantially less attention focused on other nonautomobile motorized vehicles. Also, these non-ATV injuries were associated with younger ages (12-15 years vs. older than16 years).
5. U.S. probes off-road vehicles after a string of accidents: A Wall Street Journal articleThe Yamaha Rhino is a newer type of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) designed to be faster and more agile, which may cause stability problems. Under current federal regulations, the Yamaha Rhino is not subject to the same safety standards that traditional ATVs must meet, because it has a steering wheel instead of the handle bars featured on recreational ATVs. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is looking into the safety of the Yamaha Rhino as a result of a growing number of rollovers, resulting in at least 30 deaths and over 200 lawsuits filed on behalf of injured riders. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122576165022595629.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
|
| Legislation |
|
6. ATVSafety.gov. State legislation. - A CPSC webpage
This webpage, offered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), describes the diversity of state laws on ATV safety regulation. 44 states have already passed ATV safety laws of one form or another, with each statute tailored to meet the needs of its particular region and constituency. http://www.atvsafety.gov/legislation/legislation.html
7. Assessing public opinion regarding potential ATV-related policies This study (Stolz U, et al. Journal of Safety Research. 2009; 40(2):149-55) assesses the attitudes of registered Ohio voters concerning potential legislation regarding ATV use and safety. A statewide telephone survey of 838 registered Ohio voters was conducted, and results were weighted by region. The voters were in favor of: restricting the use of ATVs by children younger than 16 years(81 percent); prohibiting passengers on ATVs (81 percent); requiring helmets (78 percent); and requiring all ATV owners and users to take a safety class (77 percent). ATV riders indicated that a mandatory helmet law would increase helmet use. The authors suggest that assessing public opinion regarding new laws is a critical first step when considering legislation to improve ATV safety. CSN will provide copies of the article to state Maternal and Child Health and state public health staff on request: csn@edc.org |
| Trainings |
|
| 8. ATV Rider Course. - An ASI program
This half-day session, conducted by the ATV Safety Institute (ASI) (http://www.atvsafety.org/), includes training on: pre-ride inspection; starting and stopping; quick turns; hill riding; emergency stopping and swerving; and riding over obstacles.
Participants also learn about: protective gear; local regulations; places to ride; and environmental concerns.
The standard cost of attending is $150 for adults and $55 for children ages 15 and younger. In some states, the owners of new ATVs are eligible for free training and incentives.
CSN is not endorsing this training and cannot provide any guarantees about its quality or effectiveness.
For more information, to find the nearest training location, and to enroll, visit
https://online.svia.org/Training/Default.aspx
9. Youths operating all-terrain vehicles - implications for safety education
This study (Burgus SK, et al. Journal of Agromedicine. 2009; 14 (2): 97-104) identifies youth ATV safety-related behaviors and how ATV safety training affects them.
The authors administered a survey to 624 participants aged 12 to 20 with a median age of 16. 56 percent of the participants were male, and 69 percent lived on a farm. The median age for first riding an ATV was 9.
ATV size recommendations were rarely observed: nearly all ATVs operated by youth less than 16 years of age were over 90 cc.
Safety-related behaviors were reported as follows: always wearing a helmet (24 percent); never taking passengers (12 percent); never riding as a passenger (16 percent); and never riding on a paved road (19 percent). A small percentage (22 percent) had participated in ATV safety training: 41 percent were willing, but 46 percent said such training was not available.
ATV training was positively associated with: always wearing a helmet; never taking passengers; never riding as a passenger; and never riding on a paved road. However, training was also associated with an increase in injuries, although it was not known if the injuries occurred before or after the training, and no exposure time data were available.
The authors suggest that gender differences in operation, behaviors, and injuries should be considered in training.
CSN will provide copies of the article to state Maternal and Child Health and state public health staff on request: csn@edc.org |
| Injury prevention programs and strategies |
|
10. How to develop a community-based 4-H ATV safety youth-adult collaboration: Implementation, resources, and lessons learned guide
This manual includes guidance on: bringing a group together; holding successful meetings; developing an action plan with a group; sustaining volunteers; and marketing.
http://www.atv-youth.org/uploadedFiles/Documents/4HATVSafetyGuide.pdf
11. 2007 ATV safety project summaries
For more than 25 years, the National 4-H Council and local 4-H representatives have been helping communities develop, implement, and evaluate 4-H ATV safety projects and programs for youth (http://www.atv-youth.org/default.aspx).
This report documents the recent success of several local 4-H projects on ATV safety.
http://www.atv-youth.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=100
12. All-terrain vehicle injury in children: Strategies for prevention
The purpose of this study (Aitken ME, et al. Injury Prevention. 2004 Oct; 10(5):303-7) was to investigate the knowledge, practices, and beliefs of ATV users to help develop safety education strategies.
Focus groups were conducted to characterize participant ATV use and safety awareness, as well as to explore avenues for prevention. A rural state with high ATV use and injury rates was chosen as the setting for the focus groups. The participants were adult and adolescent ATV users.
ATV riders were aware of some risks. Youths felt that age-specific regulation was unlikely to be a helpful strategy. Participants endorsed messages demonstrating graphic consequences as likely to get the attention of young riders regarding risks. Educational settings were suggested, including hunter and driver safety classes.
The authors conclude that: efforts to improve ATV safety awareness should clearly show pediatric ATV injury risk and safety practices; campaigns must show realistic understanding of current use practices; messages emphasizing the consequences of unsafe ATV use are most likely to have impact; and approaches based on age-based restrictions are unrealistic.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1730140/pdf/v010p00303.pdf |
| Safety guides |
|
13. ATV safety messages from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
These brief guidelines provide the major safety tips that every ATV owner must know: get trained; wear a helmet; no children on adult ATVs; don't ride tandem; don't ride on pavement; and don't ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs. http://www.atvsafety.gov/safetytips.html
|
| CSN resources |
|
|
14. ATV state legislation maps
This collection of maps shows which states have ATV-related legislation on: safety education; registration, title and license requirements; passenger prohibitions; on-road use restrictions; ages for operating; minimum age requirements; and helmet and eye protection.
| |
|
