Basic science reviewAll-terrain vehicle rules and regulations: impact on pediatric mortality
Section snippets
Materials and methods
We queried the CPSC database for annual ATV-related deaths and injuries. We abstracted pediatric data from 1982 to 1998. We compared the top 26 states with the highest pediatric mortality rate (TOP) with all other states (OTH). We analyzed pediatric mortality data reported to the CPSC and state ATV requirements compiled by the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America in August 2001. We calculated ATV mortality rate per 100,000 by dividing ATV mortality frequency by 1980–2000 pediatric census
Results
There were a total of 1,342 ATV pediatric deaths during the 16-year study period. (Table 1) Eighty-two percent of the fatalities were male victims. Seventy-five percent of the fatalities were passengers. Most fatalities occurred in victims between 12 and 16 years of age (Fig 1). The TOP states averaged approximately a 2-fold increase in adjusted ATV mortality rate when compared with the national average. Alaska had an approximately 6-fold increase in mortality rate compared with the national
Discussion
Current legal and regulatory standards have a low probability of decreasing ATV-related pediatric mortality. Lynch et al.4 reported in 1998 that during the era of the CPSC consent decree, children sustained significant injuries as a result of ATV use. Since the CPSC consent decree expired in 1998, reports continue to imply that children are at risk and sustain substantial ATV-related injuries and mortality.3, 8, 11, 12 Current trends in increasing pediatric mortality and morbidity support the
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