More than mere annoyances, tearing up trails or disturbing the peace, all-terrain vehicles are deadly, according to a report published last month by the Consumer Federation of America, Bluewater Network and the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition. The ATV Safety Crisis Report says that ATV accidents have injured more than 111,000 people in the last nine years, and killed more than 1,700 children in the last 20. The authors of the report hope to bring attention to the dangers of ATVs, and recommend strongly that their use be formally regulated, by setting age limits (kids as young as 10 years old can operate ATVs in Pennsylvania) and adopting mandatory helmet laws. For a copy of the report, visit www.naturaltrails.org.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Rough riding.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
