Y-Guy
Tri-Cities, WA
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Government eyes off-road recreational vehicles
By JENNIFER C. KERR
Associated Press Writer
This undated handout photo provided by the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association shows an off-road recreational vehicle known as an ROV. The federal government is taking a closer look at off-road recreational vehicles, known as ROVs, after dozens of deaths.
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
This undated handout photo provided by the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association shows an off-road recreational vehicle known as an ROV. The federal government is taking a closer look at off-road recreational vehicles, known as ROVs, after dozens of deaths.
After scores of deaths, the federal government is taking a closer look at off-road recreational vehicles, known as ROVs.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted Wednesday to write mandatory rules to regulate the four-wheel vehicles, following more than 100 deaths since 2003. Riders have suffered dozens of injuries, too - some leading to amputations.
ROVs, also called side-by-sides, are two-passenger motorized vehicles designed for drivers 16 years and older. They resemble a cross between a rugged-looking golf cart and a miniature-Jeep, and have a roll cage - metal bars framing the cab.
The industry proposed voluntary regulations for side-by-sides, but CPSC staffers said they fell short. Agency staff have expressed concern about the vehicles and rollover risks.
The commission will solicit comments from industry, consumer advocates and others as it writes the rules. This is the beginning of a process that could take many months, even years.
ROVs first appeared on the market in the late 1990s. Since 2003, CPSC says 116 people have died, including young children, and more than 150 have been injured. Injuries have involved crushing fractures to legs, feet and arms and some riders have lost limbs.
Safety advocates say the commission's vote puts the industry on notice.
"This is an instance where the industry has not been responding quickly and effectively enough to the well-documented hazards caused by these products," said Rachel Weintraub, director of product safety and senior counsel for the Consumer Federation of America.
ROV makers, however, insist the vehicles are safe.
"We know the vehicles are safe when used responsibly," the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association said in a statement. "We must emphasize the importance of consumers making the right choices when driving an ROV."
Former agency chief, Nancy Nord, first directed CPSC staff to investigate the vehicles and deaths a year ago.
In March, Yamaha Motor Corp. USA recalled more than 100,000 of its Rhino off-highway recreational vehicles for repairs after two models were linked to 46 deaths in the past six years. In many cases, riders were not wearing seat belts, the commission said. And in a number of incidents, rollovers happened on level ground at relatively slow speeds, the agency said.
ROVs can reach top speeds of more than 35 miles an hour. Industry officials declined to say exactly how fast they can go, but Yamaha put the maximum speed for its ROVs at 40 miles an hour.
Currently, there are mandatory restrictions for ATVs, such as speed limits for youth models. But there are no standards, voluntary or otherwise, for the side-by-sides, which have the roll cage and a different steering system.
About 140,000 ROVs were sold last year in the United States.
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derwud
Pasadena, CA
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When is the Gov gonna learn, you can't legislate stupid!! If you make something idiot proof, you just asked someone to build a better idiot!!!
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SRockwood
San Diego
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So, out of about 1 million side by sides sold, with countless passengers and drivers, 116 people died and they need to make legislation for it?
Don't they have better things to do?
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BIGDADDY650R
OVERBROOK, KANSAS
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??? I bet that way over 116 deaths happen to horseback riders since 2003???
I wonder if they will investigate them too???
Your tax $'s at work!
Big Brother will tell you what to do and who to give your money to!
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928gt
Western North Carolina
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BIGDADDY650R wrote:??? I bet that way over 116 deaths happen to horseback riders since 2003???
I wonder if they will investigate them too???
On average over 200 PER YEAR die from Horseback riding accidents....
AND for EACH YEAR - approx. 11,500 sustained traumatic brain injuries!
BUT, look at the demographics of horseback riders vs ATVs/MC riders and you will see why Horseback riding will never be regulated. Too many friends in high places.
* This post was
edited 10/22/09 12:52pm by 928gt *
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reno82
Cardiff by the Sea, CA
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928gt wrote:BIGDADDY650R wrote:??? I bet that way over 116 deaths happen to horseback riders since 2003???
I wonder if they will investigate them too???
On average over 200 PER YEAR die from Horseback riding accidents....
AND for EACH YEAR - approx. 11,500 sustained traumatic brain injuries!
BUT, look at the demographics of horseback riders vs ATVs/MC riders and you will see why Horseback riding will never be regulated. Too many friends in high places.
Exactly! I'm so excited about more change I can believe in! At least we'll have health care for when we hurt ourselves.......um.....riding a horse.....or sitting on the coach....or what ever else will be legal to do.
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camperbuds3
NE Pennsylvania
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928gt wrote:BIGDADDY650R wrote:??? I bet that way over 116 deaths happen to horseback riders since 2003???
I wonder if they will investigate them too???
On average over 200 PER YEAR die from Horseback riding accidents....
AND for EACH YEAR - approx. 11,500 sustained traumatic brain injuries!
BUT, look at the demographics of horseback riders vs ATVs/MC riders and you will see why Horseback riding will never be regulated. Too many friends in high places.
Exactly!
It's also why race horse owners and breeders are allowed more tax breaks than dairy farmers and beef ranchers get.
And I agree with the other replys about stupidity of the part of some operators of off-road recreational vehicles.
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Home Skillet
Pearland Texas
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41,000 people get killed every year by drunk drivers.
That does not matter.
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Bad Brad
Utah
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Our Government is so pathetic. We need to come up with some ideas to put a stop to stupid. I'll start.
1. Vote them out after one term. No more multiple terms.
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jenoble99
Indiana
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I used to own a couple of ATV's. I remember every time there was an ATV crash/death on the news my Grandma would call me, "someone was killed on a 4 wheeler, them things are dangerous." My response every time was what stupid thing were they doing. Every time it was someone acting irresponsibly. As someone said above, "you can't legislate stupid." I saw a reference in the article stating that most weren't wearing seat belts, with the high COG of those side by sides not wearing a seat belt and flying through the woods is a dangerous combination.
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