Jacksonville, Florida, August 1, 2007 -- In 2006 nationwide, approximately 38,000 children were injured on ATVs. While a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries, there are no safety devices that adequately protect against other injuries commonly sustained while riding ATVs. Accordingly, Safe Kids Northeast Florida and Wolfson Children's Hospital recommend that no children under age 16 be allowed to ride an ATV under any circumstances.

ATV rollovers, collisions and ejections can cause instantly fatal head injuries as well as serious nonfatal injuries to the head, spinal cord and abdomen. A child riding an ATV is four times as likely to be seriously injured as a rider over age 16.

"ATVs are inherently difficult to operate, and children do not have the cognitive and physical abilities to drive or ride these vehicles safely," says Cynthia Dennis, RN, coordinator of Safe Kids Northeast Florida. "If you're not old enough to drive a car with safety belts on a paved road with traffic control devices, you're certainly not old enough to drive a powerful open-seat vehicle at speeds up to 70 miles per hour over rough terrain."

The number of ATV-related injuries per year doubled between 1993 and 2001, and the injury and death rates are highest among riders under 16. In 2003, children accounted for nearly one out of three ATV-related injuries.

"We know it's not the advice a lot of parents want to hear, but it's the conclusion we've drawn from extensive and ongoing review of the data," says Dennis. "There is simply no way to make ATV riding a safe activity for children. If you want our opinion as safety experts, that's it."

Since 1998, the ATV industry has observed voluntary guidelines restricting the sale of adult-sized ATVs (with engines bigger than 90 cc) for use by children under age 16, but the number of children per year injured on ATVs continues to grow.

"Previous efforts to make ATVs safer for kids have proved inadequate," says Dennis. "Government efforts and the voluntary standards observed by the industry have not kept children out of the emergency room."

For more information about ATVs and outdoor recreation safety, visit www.usa.safekids.org.