Image: Crothersville (In.) Times
ATV industry has blood on its hands
Yet again this week I had to write the story I have written far too many times previously the story of a child dead following a four-wheeler crash. This time it was a 15-year-old girl with a lifetime of promise ahead of her. According to the coroner, she was going too fast, not wearing a helmet and making jumps on a powerful four-wheeler.
She crashed and died tragically, her head split open. She leaves behind family and friends devastated with grief and a community traumatized by her loss. This is nothing new.
ATVs were introduced in the 1970s. At first they were powered tricycles built by Honda primarily used for herding cattle.
My friends and I spent much time hunting in the Mennonite dairy community in Macon County back then and there were at least two Mennonite children maimed or killed herding dairy cows on the blasted things each year.
Many more suffered other injuries.
Rocky Wainwright, a local DNR ranger, was killed on a three-wheeler in August 1999 while searching for a missing girl who turned up murdered. ATVs kill indiscriminately but they kill kids at great rates. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, ATVs killed 29 people and injured another 10,100 in 1982.
That number grew to 150,000 injured and 766 dead in 2007.
Of the 10,281 reported deaths from 1982 to 2009, nearly 3,000 were children under 16 years of age.
Still, ATV makers recklessly turn out products that have greater horsepower and go faster than last year’s models.
Adding to this insanity is the number of parents or supervising adults who let children fly across the countryside on these deathtraps without donning a helmet.
We’ve all seen these kids pop out of a ditch or logging road and race across or alongside a highway helmet-less.
They think they are invincible but they are just one sharp turn, large rock, patch of loose gravel or moment of carelessness from death.
So, what can be done?
ATVs are a big business and manufacturers will keep on churning them out without regard to the blood on their hands.
Government regulation is never really the answer to anything but these manufacturers should be held to some sort of safety standards.
There should also be a licensing procedure with mandatory safety training as a component. Helmets should be required. Age limits should be addressed. Should children under age 14 or so be strictly prohibited from operating ATVs or riding on them without a parent at the controls?
The most needed change is common sense on the part of parents and supervising adults. If you have one of the ultra-fast ATVs and have kids, I strongly suggest you reevalute its danger and take precautions to better ensure their safety.
Tragedy could be just around the corner if you don’t!
Walter Geiger is editor and publisher of The Herald Gazette and the Pike County Journal Reporter.
ATVs were introduced in the 1970s. At first they were powered tricycles built by Honda primarily used for herding cattle.
My friends and I spent much time hunting in the Mennonite dairy community in Macon County back then and there were at least two Mennonite children maimed or killed herding dairy cows on the blasted things each year.
Many more suffered other injuries.
Rocky Wainwright, a local DNR ranger, was killed on a three-wheeler in August 1999 while searching for a missing girl who turned up murdered. ATVs kill indiscriminately but they kill kids at great rates. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, ATVs killed 29 people and injured another 10,100 in 1982.
That number grew to 150,000 injured and 766 dead in 2007.
Of the 10,281 reported deaths from 1982 to 2009, nearly 3,000 were children under 16 years of age.
Still, ATV makers recklessly turn out products that have greater horsepower and go faster than last year’s models.
Adding to this insanity is the number of parents or supervising adults who let children fly across the countryside on these deathtraps without donning a helmet.
We’ve all seen these kids pop out of a ditch or logging road and race across or alongside a highway helmet-less.
They think they are invincible but they are just one sharp turn, large rock, patch of loose gravel or moment of carelessness from death.
So, what can be done?
ATVs are a big business and manufacturers will keep on churning them out without regard to the blood on their hands.
Government regulation is never really the answer to anything but these manufacturers should be held to some sort of safety standards.
There should also be a licensing procedure with mandatory safety training as a component. Helmets should be required. Age limits should be addressed. Should children under age 14 or so be strictly prohibited from operating ATVs or riding on them without a parent at the controls?
The most needed change is common sense on the part of parents and supervising adults. If you have one of the ultra-fast ATVs and have kids, I strongly suggest you reevalute its danger and take precautions to better ensure their safety.
Tragedy could be just around the corner if you don’t!
Walter Geiger is editor and publisher of The Herald Gazette and the Pike County Journal Reporter.
The statement "ATVs kill indiscriminately but they kill kids at great rates" is so in error that it makes the whole point of the editorial questionable. Unless negligence or poor craftsmanship was involved in the design, construction or maintenance of the ATV, then it did not kill anyone. Even then, it is the person behind the substandard effort, not the ATV itself.
This latest event was a terrible tragedy and something no mother or father should have to endure. But to call out an industry when the overwhelming majority of incidents you referred to were user or maintenance related (yes, I have done my research), is the same as people that blame deaths from violent crime on the fire arms that were used. In this recent accident it is already clear that lack of safe operation seems to be a contributing factor in the untimely death of that young girl.
Finally, I think it is really inappropriate to be playing the "blame game" so soon after the death. Including a graphic description of her injuries really could have been avoided. The whole article smacks of sensationalism and yellow journalism.
"Although ATVs have surged in popularity over the past several years, they pose significant dangers for children 16 and under who simply do not have the physical strength, cognitive skills, maturity or judgment to safely operate ATVs," said study author Rebeccah L. Brown, MD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center."These are hefty motorized vehicles that weigh up to 600 pounds and are capable of reaching speeds of up to 85 miles per hour.
"ATV manufacturer warning labels are largely ineffective, and ATV training is infrequently offered to ATV users, most of whom deem it unnecessary," said Dr. Brown. "Mandatory safety courses and licensing, and enforceable helmet legislation, are needed to reduce ATV use by children.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
Your quotes:
1)"they pose significant dangers for children 16 and under who simply do not have the physical strength, cognitive skills, maturity or judgment to safely operate ATVs,"
Translation: people 16 and under should not be operating these ATVs. Not because they are poorly built or designed, but because people in those age ranges lack the basic requirements for safe operation. Yet, parents on a regular basis allow them to operate them and do so unsupervised.
2) "ATV manufacturer warning labels are largely ineffective, and ATV training is infrequently offered to ATV users, most of whom deem it unnecessary,"
Translation: ATV manufacturers provide warnings, but they are ignored and most ATV operators do not see the training and necessary. Again, not the fault of the ATV industry. People still get killed using electronics in bathtubs, but that is not the fault of the manufacturer. Same case here. An ATV is a motorized vehicle, not a toy and it is the users treating it like toys, not the industry.
3) "Mandatory safety courses and licensing, and enforceable helmet legislation, are needed to reduce ATV use by children."
Translation: Government should establish the same sort of testing, training and licensing they do for all other motorized vehicles. Yet, they don't. The ATV industry cannot make law, the government can. Likewise, more responsible parents would play a pretty substantial roll in reducing accidents, injuries and deaths from unsafe operation of ATVs.
It is the easy convenient thing to blame "big business" rather than really call it like it is. You can believe this opinion piece was truth all you want. But, plain and simple, to write this knee-jerk article indicting the industry when there were obvious issues in this case and the overwhelming majority of ATV accidents with driver safety is the very definition of the blame game and yellow journalism.
How about we start holding people accountable for their actions rather than always running to the deep pockets? Or, in the case of young people, how about we hold those that have the care and governance of those young ones to an appropriate standard. But, no, that won't happen because it might hurt someone's feelings. Would be nice for people to "man up" a little.
Thousands of children are being seriously injured in all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accidents every year. In fact, the number of accidents and injuries has doubled in the last 10 years. Children are less likely to be riding ATVs compared with adults but they make up a full one-third of all injuries. And some of those accidents result in death.
Orthopedic surgeons treating these injuries have expressed concern publicly. Even so, the number of ATV sales has continued to rise and along with it the number of children and teens riding these vehicles. Not only that, but the vehicles have become heavier, larger, and faster. Roll-over accidents resulting in spine injuries increased by 476 per cent between 1997 and 2006.
In this study, surgeons from the University of Tennessee compiled information from their records to get an idea of how many and what kind of ATV-related injuries are being treated at their clinic. They divided them up by age (birth to 15 years and 16 to 18 years) and by type of injury (head/skull, trunk/abdomen, nonspinal orthopedic).
Some children had more than one type of injury including spine and nonspinal locations. Most of the spine injuries were single level injuries. In a smaller number of children, multiple spine injuries (fractures, spinal cord injuries, nerve root injuries) were recorded. More than half the children in the study required surgery.
Children are more likely than adults to be injured in an ATV accident for several reasons. Of course, they are usually smaller in size compared with adults. They are no match for a 500 pound (half ton) machine. In one study, only 14 per cent of the group was wearing a helmet. This is typical of what has been reported in other similar studies as well.
Children and younger teens have less muscle strength compared with adults. Other factors include decreased depth perception, level of emotional maturity and cognitive ability, and experience. Females are more likely to experience a spine injury due to a phenomenon referred to as vehicle-rider mismatch. They are simply outweighed by these machines and have more trouble correcting or preventing accidents, especially rollovers.
Older teens were more likely to have spine injuries. This may be explained by the fact that they have reached full growth (skeletal maturity) and have less flexible bone structures. Their spines are more adult-like with less ligamentous laxity (looseness) and more upright (vertical) positioning of the spinal (facet) joints.
ATV-related injuries are high-energy resulting in multiple (and often very serious) injuries. Almost half of the children involved were younger than 16 and were not wearing a helmet. These facts suggest the need for more education and legislative efforts to change this pattern of behavior.
You keep blaming the ATV industry, but let me ask: how many "children" walk into a store and buy an ATV? Generally, none. ATVs are bought by parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. So is that the ATV or the ATV industries fault? Once purchased, young people and children are typically given less than 1 hour of instruction by the responsible (adult) party before letting them go on their own. And, this is the ATV or ATV industries fault?
Once purchased, how much supervision are the children riding the ATVs getting? From all of your research you must be aware that the majority of ATV accidents with young people/children happened when they were not being properly supervised. Is that the fault of the ATV industry?
As with other open type vehicles, the majority of death occur from head and neck injuries. In those cases, the riders were generally not wearing proper head protection. Is that the fault of the ATV industry?
ATVs have warnings in their manuals and their frames. Is it the fault of the ATV or ATV industry that the warning information is not read or heeded?
The ATV industry makes a product that there is a demand for, is legal to manufacture, and is not inherently dangerous when used properly/safetly. The whole reason they make smaller and lighter ATVs is because when those models weren't available adults were allowing children to ride the full size versions (in spite of the obvious danger of that situation). Yet, instead of calling out those who should be responsible, you keep putting the blame on the ATV or the industry that makes it. If I buy my child an ATV, don't train, supervise or have them wear proper safety gear, that is on me, not the ATV or the industry. Check your research and see just how many of those accidents could have been lessened in severity or avoided altogether if proper supervision, proper training and proper safety had been in use. Sadly, a huge percentage of child and teen accidents could have been avoided or the impact reduced just by using one of all three of those factors.
This recent accident was a tragedy and as a parent I really feel for this family. But as a parent, it is incidents like this that remind me to be vigilant and careful with my child no matter how mature or "ready" they may seem to be. I am the guardian of the well-being.
Why do we have a helmet law for kids on bicycles, but not for ATVs? They go a lot faster and are generally used in more rugged conditions than most bicycles.
Charlie Muise
Another view, the real tragedy is Darwin was one generation late.
Walter certainly has many valid points. But at the end of every day, the consumer is responsible to use common sense and follow the directions and warnings put out from those who manufacture items that we use and abuse.
Gun manufacturers have blood on their hands,
Car manufacturers have blood on their hands,
Knife manufacturers have blood on their hands,
Beer manufacturers have blood on their hands,
Cigarette manufactures have blood on their hands,
Rope manufacturers have blood on their hands,
on and on ad infinitum.
Just about everything has been used or caused the death of someone at sometime. Knee jerk reactions are to ban the substances used. It never falls on the personal responsibility of the user.
Walter you have many times used the phrase "personal responsibility" to decry the call for the ban of handguns. This case is no different. Guns don't kill, people kill. The ATV doesn't kill, careless people do.
I live on a dirt road. It isn't uncommon to see young kids riding double on ATVs; never with helmets, on the public road, and on other's private property without permission.
I've seen two or three flip-overs in the past year, and none of the ATVs had roll bars and none of the riders helmets (some no shirts).
Mail boxes get mowed down, mine by two drunk kids who were obviously underage. I've had them pass me twice in the last year on one lane dirt roads while I was driving down the road the speed limit, once resulted in a flip over.
These things are unstable with poor suspension and poor ratio of speed to tire diameter, and unsafe without some sort of roll bar or protection.
Worse of all, parents turn their kids loose on them like unsafe ATVs are toys.
They drag race each other, and do donuts digging deep holes in roads the county can barely afford to mow or maintain.
Unfortunately, when parents aren't educated or concerned enough to control the use of ATVs they purchase, it becomes a burden on everyone else.
As we transition into government provided health care, risk will become everyone's concern because the citizens will be taxed to pay for it. Motorcyclists, gun enthusiasts, ATV riders, and many more will be roundly criticized for placing an extra burden on the public health system. These same people will likely be penalized by the government for engaging in “risky” activities and the public will support those penalties.
Engaging in risk is soon to become politically incorrect.
There's no way to legislate the end of tragedies. This is life and always has been. We can and should mourn over the loss of loved ones and try to comfort those who experience a loss. But these events should never become excuses to add new restrictions on liberty.
1.) let's remove the warning lights and dual master cylinders from automotive brake systems, and those silly third brake lights. That will save a few bucks
2.) let's get rid of seat belts and air bags. That will lower the price of cars
3.) let's stop this silly nonsense about arc detecting circuit breakers, and the wasteful ground rods and safety ground wires on our electrical outlets. That will make houses a few bucks less
4.) let's stop all the stupid wasteful NFPA codes that burden manufacturers and builders
5.) let's get rid of UL, that will save a few percent
6.) let's stop regulating compounding facilities....ohh wait a minute.... a compounding lobby gave a few million dollars to a certain political party in the 2000's and FDA enforcement stopped. The owner of a compounding facility that killed and injured so many gave $10,000 to a Massachusetts Republican who wrote a letter stating how good that facility was, and why the state should back off. He wrote it just BEFORE they infected hundreds of people with Meningitis-contaminated steroid syringes.
Perhaps we better think about that last one, but the others are all OK aren't they?