SVIA Testifies at CPSC Meeting
Representatives of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) testified Monday at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) public meeting in Bethesda, Md. Testimony concerned a petition which requests a ban on selling ATVs for use by children under 16 years old.
SVIA agreed with a previous CPSC staff recommendation that the petition should be denied. On Feb. 4, CPSC staff announced: “The CPSC lacks the ability to regulate or enforce how consumers use products after purchase. While the Commission can effect to some degree how ATVs are sold, it cannot control the behavior of consumers or prevent adults from allowing children to ride adult-sized ATVs.”
SVIA concurs with CPSC staff that the issue of children under 16 riding adult-sized ATVs is at point of use, not at point of sale. SVIA representatives said they believe a three-pronged approach including rider training, parental supervision, and appropriate state safety legislation is the best means to reduce ATV related injuries.
SVIA, based in Irvine, Calif., is a not-for-profit trade association sponsored by AlphaSports, Arctic Cat, Bombardier, Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. The industry’s model legislation not only advocates safety provisions that codify mandatory helmet use, but also advocates adult supervision, the prohibition of passengers, and the prohibition of children under 16 riding adult-sized ATVs, among other safety provisions.
SVIA representatives also participated in previous CPSC held field hearings in New Mexico, West Virginia and Alaska – where most of the witnesses advocated education, state legislation with enforcement, and adult supervision as the keys to improving ATV safety.
