Fed Safety agency says no to ATV ban
Author: Dealernews

A report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission cautioned against a ban on sales of new full-size ATVs to buyers who plan on letting children ride them.

The report issued in early February was a response to a petition filed by consumer and doctors groups that asked for the ban. The groups cited a high rate of injuries to children under 16 who ride the full-size machines.

While conceding the injuries, the CPSC reported that stopping sales would not keep kids from riding large-displacement ATVs. The agency can, to some degree, control how ATVs are sold, but it can't prevent parents from letting children ride large ATVs because it can't control consumers' actions.

A spokeswoman for the Consumer Federation of America disagreed with the report, saying it "does not serve the public interest, nor will it protect consumers." She did, however, acknowledge that a ban would be hard to enforce, but says that it would send a message to consumers that children should not be allowed to ride full-size ATVs.

There is already a voluntary agreement between the industry and the CPSC that says dealers won't sell ATVs to people they suspect will allow children to ride them. Moreover, the ATV Safety Institute has pushed educational programs for years to deter parents from allowing their children on large ATVs.