Thanks for the well-intentioned note. I take an even tougher position toward ATV injuries when they involve children. The manufacturers have promoted "safe" operation of ATVs by children with tactics such as "safety courses," "child-sized vehicles," etc. None of these approaches will stop the carnage, which is documented in little-publicized CSPSC data; all of them will simply increase ridership by young people and as a result, exposure to severe trauma to young people riding inherently unstable, hard-to-control
ATVs.

After more than 20 years of involvement with ATV injuries, both as a public health educator(Tufts Medical School) and a consulting expert in the field, I find it tragic that CPSC, the industry and Congress have let this problem go unaddressed for so long. Nor is the civil justice system doing all that it could and should. Public policy toward reduction of injuries caused by inherently hazardous products, such as ATVs and unshielded motorboat propellers, is sadly lagging. Meanwhile,"blaming the victim," which once completely shielded auto companies from responsibility for the injuries they caused (and is remains an arrow in the quiver of their defenses), is still a large reason for the policy deficiencies.