Elsevier

Journal of Pediatric Surgery

Volume 38, Issue 9, September 2003, Pages 1284-1286
Journal of Pediatric Surgery

Basic science review
All-terrain vehicle rules and regulations: impact on pediatric mortality

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3468(03)00383-XGet rights and content

Abstract

Background/purpose: All-terrain vehicles (ATV) use by children leads to severe injury and death. Since the US Consumer Product Safety Commission consent decree expired in 1998, there has been little movement in regulating ATV use for children (<16 yr). The authors hypothesized that states with laws and regulations restricting pediatric ATV use may abrogate excess death compared with states without such restrictions.

Methods: Pediatric mortality data reported to the consumer product safety commission from 1982 to 1998 were analyzed as well as state all-terrain vehicle requirements compiled by the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America in August 2001. The authors calculated ATV mortality rate by dividing ATV mortality frequency by 1980–2000 pediatric census results. They compared the top 26 states with the highest ATV mortality rates (TOP) with those of all other states (OTH) in terms of age, ATV type, ATV occupancy, and ATV laws. Chi-square analysis was performed.

Results: There were 1,342 ATV pediatric deaths during the 16-year period. The TOP states averaged approximately a 2-fold increase in adjusted ATV mortality rate compared with the national ATV pediatric mortality rate. Ninety-two percent of TOP states have no licensing laws compared with 73% of the OTH states (P < .07). There is no difference between groups with regard to minimum age requirements and safety certification.

Conclusions: Current legal and regulatory standards have low probability of decreasing ATV-related pediatric mortality. States should adopt laws that restrict the use of ATV’s for children less than 16 years of age and potentially prevent excess ATV-related 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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  • All-Terrain Vehicle Injury in Children and Youth: Examining Current Knowledge and Future Needs

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    The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Surgeons recommend that no person under the age of 16 years operate an ATV (38,39). Accordingly, some states have created legislation to regulate ATV vehicle use (10,40,41). Despite these efforts, young drivers remain common.

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