Experts say guidelines for ATV's are not safe

A study by researchers at the University of Kentucky in the United States has found that the national size guidelines for all-terrain vehicles (ATV) are inadequate to ensure the safety of young riders.

The researchers say initial experiments have found that ATV size guidelines for youth - which match the rider's age to a recommended vehicle frame or engine size - do not assure a proper fit.

Their preliminary results and experiments, even though they were considered as exploratory, are expected to have profound implications.

Dr. Andrew Bernard, a British trauma surgeon is the principal investigator of the ATV study group which has gathered together engineers, surgeons, and trauma prevention experts.

Dr. Bernard says they hope the research will save children's lives by prompting changes in ATV use.

The team have completed the initial phase of its comprehensive, multi-year study to measure various physical and behavioural aspects of ATV safety, particularly involving children.

The first two preliminary experiments involved 11 children age 12-15 and eight children age 6-11, began in June this year at Wenner Gren Biomedical Research Facility in the UK.

The study is the first of its kind and it has found that current guidelines do not account for variability in body size and shape among children of the same age group or even of the same age.

For example larger children under age 16 may fit the adult-size vehicle frame better, even though the recommendation would be for a "youth" sized frame or engine and the converse applies for those above age 16 but who are of small stature.

The consequences of rider misfit includes the inability to adequately steer, brake, or accommodate varying terrain.

Dr. Bernard says enormous variability exists among similar-age kids with regard to parameters of fit and this makes it uncertain that current guidelines will correctly match a youth to the right ATV frame size.

The group's study found that seven of the eight children age 6-11 tested did not meet recommended existing guidelines for proper fit when mounted on the adult-size ATV and the researchers say this evidence shows that young children do not fit and should never be allowed to operate an adult ATV of the type tested, regardless of experience, supervision or equipment.

The study also found that downhill operation of either large or small ATV's, particularly during turning, is associated with limited maneuverability by young riders.

Dr. Bernard says the current guidelines are important because they do limit engine size, but they fall far short of actually determining the correct frame size for young riders, and body size and mechanics which directly affect the rider-vehicle fit, are not considered in the current guidelines.

He says the result may be vehicles that are too large or even perhaps too small but in either case, they can present operational safety hazards and more research is needed.

The researchers say parents should use extreme caution when they allow their child to ride an ATV as optimal fit, equipment, training and supervision are essential.

The study comes at an opportune moment when two young riders have died in a trail bike accident at Coonarr Beach, south of Bundaberg, Queensland.

Questions have been raised over the time taken to respond to the trail bike accident which killed two 17-year-olds - police officers say it took an hour to reach the remote accident location.