Car and Autobody

Finding a bucket truck for sale that you believe will greatly help your company is quite exciting. The ability to take on more projects translates into more revenue. Before you search out bucket truck sales just anywhere, consider browsing vehicles at a company that can do more for you than just provide a list of trucks. Utility Fleet is a step above most companies that boast boom trucks for sale, and there are several reasons why you should come to us first.

Once you locate a bucket truck for sale that you think best suits your needs, you need to decide how to pay for it. At Utility Fleet we can help facilitate flexible financing. Additionally, we provide rebates of up to ,000 on many of our trucks. Our industry leading warranty options attached to such bucket truck sales ensures that you get your money’s worth once you do decide to purchase from us.

We understand that aside from pricing, reliability is a major factor in deciding which company to buy from. Low prices mean little when you are not sure if you will receive what was promised from a bucket truck supplier. To bring you peace of mind, we invite you to check out our rating from the Better Business Bureau, which displays an “A” grade. Clearly, your satisfaction is important to us.

Before you purchase any truck, consider the scope of the projects you plan to take on. For example, a job that demands two workers in the air at one time will clearly not work when you use a boom truck with a single-man platform. Perhaps some jobs will require an articulating unit, while others do not. Either way, a little research can go a long way when it comes to bucket truck sales.

Finding a great bucket truck for sale is often the easiest part of the process. Once you decide to buy it, you need to figure out how to pay for it and get it to your job site. Besides offering the best prices in the industry and helping facilitate financing, we offer free nationwide delivery. Once you select and pay for your truck, leave the delivery process to Utility Fleet. We will do everything we can to make sure your new vehicle is delivered safely to your business, ready to get to work.

ATV is an all-terrain vehicles, are currently very admired by everyone from kids to adults. Riding ATVs is now a choice of outdoor activity enthusiasts. Riding the iron horse with a four-wheel turned out to provide extraordinary sensation. Even now, the ATV is designed so that they can only be operated off-road, which means non-public roads.

When compared with Motocross and Enduro, ATV challenge was in the middle. ATV can be played by those who have no special expertise might even like the kids are still young, but still challenging to try outdoor sports enthusiast who once did a professional.

ATV motorcycle indeed many are specifically designed so that easy to drive by anyone. Including those who have never been on a motorcycle once so that ATV riding is very common. ATV even the most demanding games as a refreshing sport.

ATV Paths What’s it like up the ATV if? If you are riding the ATV on a path, there is the challenge of riding ATVs on the obstacles encountered on a path. Fight for our ATV ride through the various trajectories that the whole point. Even if it will be exciting when Rain. Mud who is on track to make the challenge more fun. Vehicles will be more difficult to control because the mud.

We must know when to step on the gas and control the vehicle. Even if it does not rain, the challenge riding ATV still fell. Specially if the trajectory is given handicap in the form of imitation mountains. Strategies must be very clever turn applied. However if in the open field, the challenge can be many times more difficult. Jogging off road and out of the woods is generally taken for two hours. Although challenging, ATV riding was quite safe.

ATV for Kids As for kids, riding ATVs has become much safer over the last few years, but they still need to understand that ATVs are not toys such as bicycles and the like. Especially in recent years the popularity of ATVs for kids have become very popular because of advances in safety for ATV and affordability of kids ATV. So the ATV becomes a source of entertainment for kids. They allow kids to explore the outdoors and riding act responsibly.

However, riding ATVs for kids, Kids need constant adult supervision and can only take safety training courses for riding ATV. Therefore, kids should be given proper guidance and (if possible) of training before they are allowed to operate their own ATV. Before you allow your kids to ride an ATV, it is important to take all necessary precautions to prevent accidents and injuries. Make sure the ATV is the right size so that safety is not compromised. Included also wear the proper safety equipment and how to ride safely.

It is important to equip kids with the appropriate equipment before they get a ride on the ATV, such as helmets, goggles, gloves, boots and long sleeved shirts and trousers. Helmets must be done to protect kids from brain injury. Preferably, the helmet does not just cover the head, but also the face. Several types of eye protection should also be worn at all times, so it felt right to safely ride an ATV. Do not ever let your kids ride their ATVs without proper safety equipment

Make sure the parking gear up the ATV is set before the kids, if you need to first teach how to set the parking gear and the proper way to mount the ATV. For the operation of ATV, make sure the kids already understand how it works such as brakes, choke, throttle, starter, shift lever and the engine stop switch. So you should make sure kids know how to properly ride ATVs kids, how to handle all the controls, how to change, how to brake, etc.

It’s also important to give your kids a lot of encouraging and supportive but also not forget the advice and training. If possible, send them to attend training courses if there is one near your place. If not, you can do the exercise yourself on proper ATV riding techniques and provide knowledge on your kids, whether it’s your environment (which obviously do not drive it on public streets) or in a special entertainment ATV game.

Which ATV is suitable for kids? An ATV can not be used properly if it’s too big for the kids. Therefore, you must ensure that your kids ride the ATV is the appropriate size. Some of the hallmarks of a good ATV for a kids is that the machine will be equipped with a barrier that can be set to limit the speed of the engine and especially the speed that can reach the ATV, a low seat height so that little feet can easily operate the brakes, etc. Parents should also consider when buying ATV for a kids is that they must have a clothing drive that included a full face helmet off road with goggles, gloves, pants, jacket or long shirt. Kids must wear all protective clothing when they ride ATVs.

One thing want to make sure is that you buy your ATV from known manufacturer who would have spare parts for how long does it take when you need to get replacement parts. Some manufacturers such as Kawasaki, Honda, and Yamaha, have designed ATV for kids, which of course has a high quality. Companies like Honda and Yamaha have a long track record of designing kids-sized ATVs for high-quality kids safely.

Some kids-sized ATV Honda. their lineup includes four-wheel or dirt bike is designed for kids, like TRX90EX Honda equipped with a single 86cc SOHC with electric starter clutch, automatic, four-speed transmission, and sealed drum brakes, front and rear. More Used Honda ATV

Or an ATV entry-level sport is very stable 27.6-inch stance, full floor for extra comfort as offered on KFX50 Kawasaki. CVT Kawasaki transmission is connected to 49.5cc air-cooled engine and power the wheels via a chain final drive. More Used Kawasaki ATV

Yamaha Grizzly 80 ATV is also very fit, designed for the rider more than twelve years. Yamaha ATV has an automatic clutch transmission features three speeds, and has a wheelbase of the longest-in-class 40.6 inches. More Used Yamaha ATV

So, ATV product offerings from these manufacturers are recommended for you, considering they have proven quality ATV with best safely.

If you are looking for strong and durable car covers that are effective in all weather conditions, perhaps there are no other car covers better than Autobody Armor car covers. Our cars have to negotiate with several extreme weather conditions and abuses. In order to prevent these hazards and keep your car exteriors shining, you need to get quality car covers.

There are car covers that vary depending upon to weather conditions and situations you want to use them in. For example, if you have to store your vehicle inside, you need to get car covers such as Stretch Satin car covers. On the other hand, if you want car covers for outdoor purposes, get the car covers that have features such as breathability, UV protection, water resistance etc.

Thanks to the manufacturers of repute it has become easy to get different car covers for different weather conditions. Moreover, there are several car covers that can be used for wide range of weather conditions such as Triguard car covers, Autobody Armor car covers, Silverguard car covers etc.

Getting several car covers cannot be said mature decision. Neither is it cost effective. Moreover, using many car covers can be daunting as well. It is not practical as well. Car covers such as Autobody car covers are effective. The custom-fit car covers that are made to protect your vehicle in most of the situations.

There are varieties of hazards that cause serious harm to the paint and finish of your vehicle. Dirt/dust causes make your car dirty and ugly. Your cars have to suffer severe abuses due to extreme weather conditions as well. Extended rain, extreme sun and UV rays, heat, storms, snow etc cause severe damage as well. Pets, bird droppings also cause dents on your car exteriors.

These hazards cause discoloration and make the exteriors ugly. In order to protect your car against hazards, you have to get car covers of repute that have capability to prevent all types of harmful elements. So, get custom car covers and protect your car.

If you are looking for strong and tough car covers that can effectively protect your vehicle, Autobody armor car covers are for you. Autobody Armor car covers are custom made car covers that are considered great for all weather conditions.

The secret of such effectiveness lies in the construction of these car covers. Made of three layers, namely, two out layers of knitted polyester fabrics and a middle layer of top grade Thermoplastic Polyurethane film, the custom tailored car covers offer superior protection for your vehicle. The car covers come with excellent breathability and superior water resistance properties.

Another secret is the manufacturing process. The quality car covers are rigorously tested for several weather and user conditions such as grade-4 test for color fastness and tested 30,000 rubs for abrasion etc. The Autobody Armor car covers also have greater ultraviolet protection. Because of these qualities, the affordable car covers are equally great for indoor and outdoor purposes.

Even the best car covers absorb certain amount of water under heavy and prolonged rain. But if the car covers have greater breathability, it lets moisture and heat to escape. The excellent breathability is the unique property that the quality car covers have and allow trapped moisture to pass out and prevents rust damage.

Apart from above properties, the custom made car covers are strong and durable. These also come with great abrasion resistance and are softness on your car body. The great car covers are user friendliness as well.

In order to protect your car against varieties of hazards, the car covers must cover every part of the car body. The custom made car covers are especially made for your car make and model. These provide the excellent fitting.

So, whether you are looking car covers for your Mercedes or Acura, car covers for BMW or the SUV; Autobody Armor car covers are available for most of the vehicle. Get them and expect the unexpected protection for your vehicle.

If you are in the market for a bucket truck, a used vehicle could be the way to go. Before you buy, it is suggested that you treat the purchase of used bucket trucks very carefully. Knowing the history of the truck, as well as its age and any problems with it, is important if you plan to get your money’s worth. Utility Fleet carries a wide range of used bucket trucks, and our experienced staff can help you determine why a particular type of reconditioned vehicle may work well for you.

Before you buy any bucket truck, you should know where to go. Some dealers do offer used vehicles, but their selection is limited. Utility Fleet is known as the largest independent used boom truck dealer in the nation. Our selection is not only vast, but also good quality, as we get many of our trucks from reputable leasing companies nationwide.

Aside from having superior quality and selection, you should make sure the dealer you buy from inspects each vehicle before it is purchased. Just because you are buying your bucket truck used does not mean you should expect lower quality. Utility Fleet inspects each truck’s hydraulic system, body, chassis, drive train, and boom before the owner gets the vehicle. If any issues ever arise, our dedicated parts team and ASE Certified technicians can use our state-of-the-art, 18-bay service facility to evaluate and remedy the problem. No one services used bucket trucks as well as we do and it shows in the quality of our product.

If you plan to buy your next bucket truck used, do not feel the need to lower your standards just because you may be getting a better deal than a new vehicle. It needs to work just as well, and ensure just as much safety to your crew as a brand new bucket truck does. At Utility Fleet, we can provide you with a truck that will get what you need done while fitting perfectly into your budget.

Utility Fleet is proud to serve Cities and other Municipalities, Power Cooperatives, Investor Owned Utilities, Utility Contractors, Telecommunications Service Providers, Telecommunications Contractors, Sign and Lighting Companies, Tree Care Services, Commercial Construction Contractors, Road/Infrastructure Construction and Repair, Crane Distributors and Operators, Oilfield Service Companies, as well as a variety of independent users throughout North America.
Call us  (outside the U.S.) for all your bucket truck, digger derrick, pressure digger, boom truck, and crane needs.
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BucketTrucks.com is a full service dealer whose experienced team has decades of industry expertise in the utility and equipment industries. We are the fastest growing bucket truck, digger derrick, truck cranes, bucket truck sales, boom trucks dealer in the United States over the past 5 years.

Know your ATV safety tips!

ATVs are gaining a great popularity among youths, adults as well as children. Hence, the knowledge of ATV safety should be growing as well. While the CPSC is committed to doing its part in promoting the safety issues of an ATV, the consumers, parents, manufacturers, dealers and retailers must also work hand in hand on this issue too. Here are some ATV safety tips for you – in case you have long forgotten about them.

1. Sign up for a hands-on safety training course

A safety training course enables riders to learn how to control their ATVs in typical situations – and in most cases, most ATV drivers who have gone through such courses have a lower injury risks compared to those with no formal or proper training.

2. Wear your protective gears!

Many a time, ATV injuries are head injuries and unless you want to risk “losing your head” while you are enjoying a ride on your ATV, always make sure that you wearing your helmet. Wearing a helmet when you are riding your ATV reduces the severity of head injuries, in the event of an unforeseen accident. However, when buying the helmet, please remember to check if it is certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and/or the Snell Memorial Foundation. On top of that, we also highly recommend that you wear over-the-ankle boots, goggles, gloves, long pants and long sleeved shirts to protect yourself against unnecessary cuts and injuries from rocks, trees as well as other kinds of debris.

3. Two is a crowd on an ATV

Most ATVs are designed for one person (meaning the rider) only and this means that passengers are not allowed. ATVs drivers must be able to shift their weight freely in all directions while they are riding and it is important that the drivers are able to maintain a safe control over their ATVs, especially on varying terrains and having a passenger will make it difficult for drivers to control their ATVs.

4. ATV = off road riding

Tempting as it may be, but one should never ride an ATV on paved roads. The designs of ATVs are not made for paved road riding. Riding an ATV on paved roads could cost you your life if you collide with cars or other vehicles. There have been reports of many fatalities involving ATVs that occur on paved roads. Be smart, ride your ATV on off paved road!

5. Children should not be allowed on adult ATVs

If you want your children to ride on an ATV, get them to ride on the youth ATVs instead of an adult ATV. About one third of ATV related deaths and injuries involving children are those who were driving or riding on an adult ATV. If your child is under 16 years of age, we encourage you to forbid them from riding an adult ATV. Instead, have them ride on something that they will have better control of – the youth ATVs.

6. Never ride ATVs under the influence of alcohol or drugs

It goes without saying that if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you should never get behind any wheels – be it a car or an ATV. Alcohol and drugs messes up your reaction time and judgment – so stay off ATVs if you have consumed either one.

ATVs are not toys, and if you adhere to all the safety measures while you ride on one, you can be sure that you will be able to have fun and arrive safely. It’s all about knowledge and putting them into practice. If you want to put in your 2-cents worth about ATV safety, you can do so at the forum discussion board at www.jackel.com or www.atvoutdoors.net Gear up and ride safely!

Know your ATV safety tips!

ATVs are gaining a great popularity among youths, adults as well as children. Hence, the knowledge of ATV safety should be growing as well. While the CPSC is committed to doing its part in promoting the safety issues of an ATV, the consumers, parents, manufacturers, dealers and retailers must also work hand in hand on this issue too. Here are some ATV safety tips for you – in case you have long forgotten about them.

1. Sign up for a hands-on safety training course

A safety training course enables riders to learn how to control their ATVs in typical situations – and in most cases, most ATV drivers who have gone through such courses have a lower injury risks compared to those with no formal or proper training.

2. Wear your protective gears!

Many a time, ATV injuries are head injuries and unless you want to risk “losing your head” while you are enjoying a ride on your ATV, always make sure that you wearing your helmet. Wearing a helmet when you are riding your ATV reduces the severity of head injuries, in the event of an unforeseen accident. However, when buying the helmet, please remember to check if it is certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and/or the Snell Memorial Foundation. On top of that, we also highly recommend that you wear over-the-ankle boots, goggles, gloves, long pants and long sleeved shirts to protect yourself against unnecessary cuts and injuries from rocks, trees as well as other kinds of debris.

3. Two is a crowd on an ATV

Most ATVs are designed for one person (meaning the rider) only and this means that passengers are not allowed. ATVs drivers must be able to shift their weight freely in all directions while they are riding and it is important that the drivers are able to maintain a safe control over their ATVs, especially on varying terrains and having a passenger will make it difficult for drivers to control their ATVs.

4. ATV = off road riding

Tempting as it may be, but one should never ride an ATV on paved roads. The designs of ATVs are not made for paved road riding. Riding an ATV on paved roads could cost you your life if you collide with cars or other vehicles. There have been reports of many fatalities involving ATVs that occur on paved roads. Be smart, ride your ATV on off paved road!

5. Children should not be allowed on adult ATVs

If you want your children to ride on an ATV, get them to ride on the youth ATVs instead of an adult ATV. About one third of ATV related deaths and injuries involving children are those who were driving or riding on an adult ATV. If your child is under 16 years of age, we encourage you to forbid them from riding an adult ATV. Instead, have them ride on something that they will have better control of – the youth ATVs.

6. Never ride ATVs under the influence of alcohol or drugs

It goes without saying that if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you should never get behind any wheels – be it a car or an ATV. Alcohol and drugs messes up your reaction time and judgment – so stay off ATVs if you have consumed either one.

ATVs are not toys, and if you adhere to all the safety measures while you ride on one, you can be sure that you will be able to have fun and arrive safely. It’s all about knowledge and putting them into practice. If you want to put in your 2-cents worth about ATV safety, you can do so at the forum discussion board at www.jackel.com or www.atvoutdoors.net Gear up and ride safely!

With more and more drivers on the road, there is always a possibility of being involved in a collision. But once we have one, finding a quality body shop is important to all of us.

No one plans to have an accident, and they are costly and stressful.  To relieve some of that stress, it is important that you trust your auto body repairs to the best autobody shop in town. Finding any auto body repair shop in the Tri-Valley area is easy, but finding a reliable and trustworthy shop is the tough part. Do thorough research before handing your vehicle over, here are a few tips.

Look at the autobody repair shop’s longevity. Are they family owned and operated, or just some franchise? The life span of the auto body repair shop tells so much about their dedication and the support they are getting from the community.  Family own shops are always a good bet as they tend to believe in treating their customers like one of their family.
Positive word of mouth will create plenty of sales alone. Word gets around if a business practice is less than honest. The shop is their livelihood so you can expect them to make sure you are satisfied. Do they have a list of satisfied customers? Is it online as proof?
Also take into consideration the conditions of the facility and if it is updated to adapt to the needs and specifications of modern vehicle repairs. This isn’t always obvious from the store front, if you have to, go in and make an inquiry and look around while you are there. Ask for a tour.
You want to know they can restore the body of your vehicle to the condition it was in before the accident. Do they have skilled staff? Ask if they are certified or look around for any accreditations on the walls.  See if their mechanics are licensed or certified.
Are they Diamond Certified? To get a Diamond Certified business, it is very difficult, and a very detailed process.  Ask to see their current Diamond Certification.
Don’t trust your insurance company’s recommendations. Why? They’ll refer you to the cheapest shop, not the one who will fix it right the first time. Their idea of a good shop may be one that is the cheapest as it is in the best interests of the insurance companies to cut costs.

Finding the right auto body repair shop in the Tri-Valley can seem a little daunting. Trusting a qualified autobody repair shop will ensure a positive experience and a vehicle that looks like yours again.

No matter if you are looking in Pleasanton, Dublin or Livermore, there are high quality shops. Here at Livermore Collision Center, we pride ourselves in being able to pass the requests our prospects have for us.

Your car has to face a lot of natural and man-made external hazards. The extreme weather conditions such as rain, ultra violet rays, snow, ice, dust, acids, and chemicals etc may cause severe color fading and dents on the paints of your car. Having quality car covers can enable you to fight against these hazards. One such car cover brand is Autobody Armor car cover.

Autobody Armor car covers offer solid protection to your car. The car covers are best for outdoor, particularly for the extreme weather conditions. How these custom car covers are able to offer such an amazing protection to your cars? Where to get them from? Are they expensive? Carry on… this article will answer all of these questions.

Autobody Armor car covers are made with perfection. The thermoplastic polyurethane is used to make these car covers. Basically the Autobody Armor car cover consists of three layers: One layer of thermoplastic polyurethane and two layers of strong latticed polyester.

The three layers enable the custom car covers to protect your car from UV rays and rain water as these have excellent water resistance and breathability features. However, this does not mean these best car covers are only for outdoor use. They are equally useful as indoor car covers.

Since Autobody Armor car covers are wonderfully designed for both indoor and outdoor purposes, they offer amazing protection for your cars in both situations. There are several other features that Autobody Armor car covers have that makes these covers most sought after.

The fabric used in Autobody Armor car covers is highly stretchable. That makes it cover all the contours, cuts, and curves of your car. These car covers are tested for color fastness, water resistance, and abrasion resistant aspects.

In addition to provide your car from dents and damages, the Autobody Armor car covers offer much more…. You can go for custom Autobody Armor car covers and get tailored car covers according to your specifications.

There are suppliers that employ latest technologies and best quality materials. The car covers they produce needs to undergo rigorous quality tests. As a result the car covers offer superior protection for your cars. So, get Autobody Armor car covers and ensure your cars safety.

Trucking jobs are a good way to make a decent income and to provide your family needs. USA people rely deeply on the trucking business to convey and transport the merchandises that make every day existence reachable, making truck drivers the fortitude of the present American economic system.

As result, there has by no means been a top occasion to chase an occupation in the transportation business. Truck driving businesses are presenting record incomes, competitive reimbursements, and more flexible programs for truck drivers. In addition, abundant businesses propose rent plans, which enable the truck drivers to improve into self-governing service providers and rent out their driving services to the corporations that could hire them.

No matter if you are a trucking skilled person probing for a new occupation or concerned in participating in a truck driving education to be given CDL training, there are companies that can be of assistance to you in result the correct profession chances. They have established relations with a large selection of nationwide and local truck driving companionships to facilitate drivers come across a pleasing occupation that meets their job requirements.

At the most of the places in internet, the system works in this way: If you are poised in some state or area that you would have a preference to work in, you have to just write it on your application documents. After that, every candidate is matched with a skilled manager explicitly allocated to lend them a hand in the job investigates process. Starting with regional and passing through nationwide trails, these companies match you with the most excellent truck driving occupations in your region.

There are a lot of trucking companies that can impart you with the complete information regarding the kinds of truck driving jobs available in the present moment. The system works in a very parallel way: the truck driving companies take your private data and counterpart it with all possible truck driving jobs obtainable in the list.

In the course of this process they can facilitate expert truck drivers come across some the finest trucking occupations presented. Internet is a place, where you can discover lots of information about truck driving, the tests that you need to hold, if you want to be a truck driver and all the information that you need. Simply type truck driving in Google and you will reach all the present companies and their offers.

There are currently millions truck driver jobs in the world. If you want to learn more about their profession and about truck driving, this article has many things to tell and present to you. For more information about trucking jobs you can also visit us at http://www.bestdriverjobs.com/.

There is an ATV safety crisis in America today, and it poses a great threat to the health and well being of our nation’s children. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were first made available in the United States in the early 1970′s, and have become increasingly popular ever since.

At first glance, ATVs may seem harmless; however the number of ATV-related injuries (http://www.accidentinjuryattorneyscalifornia.com/atv_accidents.html) and deaths continues to rise with their popularity.

Over 136,000 Americans suffer ATV-related injuries (http://www.bestattorney.com) and deaths ever year and over one-third of the victims are children under 16 years of age. Despite the increasing epidemic, ATV manufacturers continue to market bigger, faster, and more dangerous ATVs for children.

ATVs have been available in the United States for approximately 40 years. They are three- or four- wheel motorized machines specifically designed for off-road travel.

ATVs are intended for single occupant use and are characterized as an open chassis or frame, which travels on large, low-pressure tires, and uses handlebars for steering. Three-wheel machines have not been manufactured since 1988, however many still remain in use.

ATV engines range from 49cc to 950cc and can travel at speeds well above 70 miles per hour.

By the mid-1980′s, ATV manufacturers were selling as many as 600,000 three- and four-wheel ATVs every year in the United States. As ATV sales continued to rise, dramatic increases in ATV-related accidents followed.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) responded to the safety crisis by negotiating a Consent Decree with ATV manufacturers in which they agreed, among other things, to five major elements (http://www.cpsc.gov/library/atv2005.pdf):

- ATV manufacturers agreed to halt production of three-wheel ATVs.

- ATV manufacturers would offer safety training to all new ATV owners.

- ATV manufacturers would recommend adult-sized ATVs only for those ages 16 and older.

- ATV manufacturers would label all ATVs with warnings, instructing purchasers that children should not ride adult-size ATVs.

- ATV manufacturers would recommend ATV engine sizes according to age: ATVs with an engine greater than 70cc should be used only by children 12 and older, and ATVs with an engine greater than 90cc should be used only by those 16 and older.

The Consent Decree only covered a ten-year period and expired on April 28, 1988. Following the expiration of the Consent Decree, ATV manufacturers agreed to continue most of its elements through voluntary action plans. These agreements embodied many important safety elements, however, unlike the Consent Decree; the voluntary safety plans are not enforceable by the CPSC.

In the late 1980′s the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) began to initiate a series of ATV-related injury and death studies intended for public release.

The first report, titled “All-Terrain Vehicle Exposure, Injury, Death, and Risk Studies”, was released in April of 1988. Some major findings in the 1988 study included (http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/FOIA/FOIA98/os/3548A4B.pdf):

- Approximately 95 percent of children, between the ages of 12 and 15 years of age, injured in ATV-related accidents were operating adult-size ATVs.

- Approximately 65 percent of children, less than 11 years of age, injured in ATV-related accidents were operating adult-size ATVs.

- Children less than 16 years of age accounted for nearly 50 percent of all ATV-related injuries.

ATV injuries and deaths have continued to increase since the CPSC’s first studies on ATV-related accidents in the 1980′s.

According to the CPSC’s latest estimates, there have been reports of 7,188 deaths and an estimated 1,763,800 emergency-room-treated injuries that have occurred between 1983 and 2005. Over 38 percent of the victims have been, and will continue to be, children under 16 years of age.

The following represents the most currently ATV-related deaths and injuries involving children, according to the CPSC. (http://www.cpsc.gov/library/atv2005.pdf)

- More than 40,000 children are seriously injured each year in ATV-related accidents.

- Between 1983 and 2005, at least 2,178 children under the age of 16 died from ATV-related accidents.

- Between 1983 and 2005, over 630,000 children under the age of 16 went to a hospital emergency room for ATV-related injuries.

- Over 42 percent of the children that die in ATV-related deaths are under 12 years of age.

- It is estimated that over 36 percent of the children that are injured in non-fatal ATV-related accidents are less than 12 years of age.

Despite the increasing ATV-related injuries and deaths, ATVs continue to get bigger, faster and more dangerous than ever.

ATV manufacturers aggressively advertise ATVs based on power and speed, weighing up to 800 pounds and traveling at speeds well above 70 miles per hour.

Regardless of warning labels and size restrictions, 90 percent of children involved in ATV-related accidents in 2005 were operating large, powerful, adult-sized ATVs.

According to the Wall Street Journal, ATV manufacturers are now pushing for a new category of bigger and faster ATVs aimed at image-conscious 14- and 15-year-olds. ATV manufacturers call this new category “transitional” ATVs, claiming they would reduce fatalities by encouraging children to ride ATV models more appropriate to their age. However, many consumer advocates claim “beefing up youth options” would undercut safety messages and put younger riders on bigger, more powerful machines.

(http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117677627556672193-8Uwp189JnDUw1_56wvQpY9v2CEg_20070521.html?mod=editsend)

The occurrence of ATV-related injury and death to children has become so great that pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, medical researchers, consumer advocates and other professionals have called for a ban on use of ATVs by children under the age of 16.

T.S. Park, M.D., the Shi Hue Huang Professor of Neurological Surgery at the School of Medicine and pediatric neurosurgeon-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, contributed to a review published in the Journal of Neurosurgery claiming that ATV-related accidents are “leading to an increasing number of fatalities and devastating injuries with lifelong consequences for children and their parents.”

In the review, Park and his colleagues strongly recommend new legislation to reduce the increasing rates of serious injury and death from ATV-related accidents.

The following are guidelines that Park and his colleagues believe would greatly reduce the number of injuries and deaths to children in ATV-related accidents. (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/09/atvs_children.html)

- Children younger than 16 years of age should be banned from riding ATVs.

- Mandatory helmet laws should be in order.

- Mandatory instruction and certification programs for all ATV owners and operators should be in order.

- ATVs should be prohibited for all public streets and highways.

Nearly 20 years after the ATV industry agreed to improve safety, ATV-related accidents continue to take an alarming toll on children. Every year hundreds of thousands of children are injured or killed in ATV-related accidents.

Although increases of ATV-related injuries and deaths to children have consistently followed the increases in popularity, sales, size and power of ATVs, state legislatures have failed to enact proper legislation to ensure that safety follows as well.

It is clear that ATVs pose a significant hazard to children and it is time for national safety standards to be implemented.