ATV review overdue but necessary

June 6, 2005

Our Opinion

The recent death of 16-year-old Wayne Heater Jr. of Homosassa has undoubtedly brought tremendous grief to his family, friends and community. Death always seems to sting our souls more when it takes the young.

But Wayne, unfortunately, is the latest local example of a growing safety concern — one that now has the attention of federal officials in Washington.

Wayne died from injuries he sustained after the all-terrain vehicle he was driving flipped, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Wayne was zipping along faster than the posted 30 mph speed limit when he slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting a dog that ran in his path, the FHP reported.

Last October, little 9-year-old Jamie Mason of Citra was similarly killed. Jamie was the passenger on an ATV driven by 6-year-old Jonathan Vann. Jonathan, the FHP reported, lost control while making a jump and crashed into a fence, which a helmetless Jamie slammed into head first.

ATVs are increasingly popular, and dangerous, it seems. So, it was heartening to see the nation's chief government watchdog for consumer protection take action.

On June 9, Hal Stratton, chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ordered a "full top-to-bottom" review of ATV regulations to see what could be done to improve their safety, the Associated Press reported.

Stratton, AP reports noted, had previously opposed stricter federal regulation of the cycles, favoring instead the industry's voluntary standards and increased rider education. He also didn't believe a crackdown, particularly on sales of full-size ATVs to children, would preclude further carnage.

But it seems Stratton, who mandated the review two days after the accident that eventually claimed Wayne Heater's life, finally succumbed to rising pressure — driven in part, according to the AP, by doctors and consumer groups.

ATV-related accidents have claimed nearly 6,000 lives nationally over the past two decades, the AP reported. About a third of all injuries and deaths involve children under 16.

It seems accidents occur most often because drivers can't handle the size, which includes ground clearance, and speed of ATVs.

U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, chairman of a House subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection, said he awaited completion of the review before deciding what comes next.

"All-terrain vehicles have been linked to some 5,800 deaths since 1982. I strongly support rigorous safety involving ATVs, and, in response to these accidents, Chairman Stratton has ordered a review of standards governing vehicle speed and stability. My subcommittee has oversight responsibility for the commission, and Chairman Stratton and I have discussed his efforts to promote safety," the Ocala Republican said in a prepared statement.

"I look forward to seeing the results of this review."

It's easy to say rider beware, but this deserves serious attention by the government.

And Mike Mount, spokesman for the ATV Safety Institute, told the Star-Banner last year in discussing Jamie's accident that the "golden rules" of ATV safety weren't followed: she wasn't wearing a helmet; ATVs are not meant for passengers; children ought to be kept off adult-size ATVs; and there must be adult supervision of children under 16.

Still, how many people — especially children — have to die before the message that these things have to be handled carefully sinks in?

Beyond Stearns' possible involvement, this issue holds wide implications for Marion County. This newspaper has written repeatedly in recent months about how the U.S. Forest Service has closed or restricted use of areas of the Ocala National Forest because of ATV-related damage and that some county homeowners and dirt bike and ATV enthusiasts are at odds over homemade tracks in subdivisions. The County Commission expects to revisit that latter issue at its meeting Tuesday.

The answer is unclear. Some options: restrict sales to preclude minors, or limit them to smaller, lighter, slower models; or make safety classes and helmet use mandatory for children.

What is clear is that children need protection, as the examples of Wayne and Jamie have so painfully and sadly taught us.

This article found at www.starbanner.com. Please visit their great site.