U.S. CPSC Chairman to Hold ATV Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2003
Release # 04-025
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles (301) 504-7908
U.S. CPSC Chairman to Hold ATV Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Hal
Stratton will conduct a regional public field meeting on All-Terrain
Vehicle (ATV) safety in Albuquerque, N.M., at 9 a.m. (Mountain Time), on
November 6, 2003. The meeting will take place at Smith Brasher Hall,
located at 717 University Blvd, SW (on the corner of University
Boulevard and Coal Avenue) in Albuquerque.
"We want to hear from New Mexicans and other stakeholders in
Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Colorado about how they use their
ATVs. We want to get their perspective on ATV safety issues," said
Stratton.
The Commission is aware of 53 ATV-related deaths in New Mexico;
233 deaths in Texas; 112 deaths in Arizona; 91 deaths in Utah; 75 deaths
in Oklahoma; and 58 deaths in Colorado between 1982 and 2002.
Nationally, the Commission has reports of 5,239 people who died on ATV's
during that period. The estimated number of deaths associated with ATVs
in recent years has climbed, with Commission staff estimating 634 deaths associated
with ATVs in 2001.
"We are concerned about the disproportionate increase in the number of
deaths and injuries associated with ATV use in recent years, and we hope this
meeting will help us better understand why deaths and injury rates are up,"
Stratton said.
ATVs have widespread popularity among all age groups, and the use of these
vehicles includes industrial and agribusiness applications. While popularity
and sales of ATVs have increased in recent years, CPSC staff's risk analysis
finds that this increase in exposure to ATVs only partially accounts for the
increase in injuries.
The Consumer Federation of America and other groups petitioned the
Commission in September 2002 to ban adult-size, four-wheel ATVs sold for the use
of children under the age of 16. The Commission sought written public comments
on the petition from October 2002 through March 16, 2003. The New Mexico meeting
will provide an additional opportunity for the public to express its views about
this petition, and about ATV use and safety.
Requests to make oral presentations at the Chairman's meeting may be made
to Lizzy Gary by phone at (301) 504-7884, by e-mail at egary@cpsc.gov, or by fax
at (301) 504-0768.