WASHINGTON (March 5, 2013) — No child under the age of 16 should be allowed to drive or ride an all-terrain vehicle, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) are warning.
While child deaths from ATV accidents decreased slightly in 2011, according to the latest statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 57 children nonetheless died that year in ATV crashes, and another 29,000 were hurt seriously enough to require emergency treatment, the two organizations said.
"As these most recent data demonstrate, ATVs are dangerous to children," said Dr. Thomas K. McInerny, president of the AAP. "Children are not developmentally capable of operating these heavy, complex machines."
Altogether, hundreds of people die and more than 100,000 are injured annually in ATV accidents, according to Rachel Weintraub, CFA legislative director and senior counsel.
"ATVs must be designed safer to substantially reduce these tragic incidents," Ms. Weintraub said.