As the prime ATV riding season kicks into gear, so does the increase in deaths. Just last month, CPSC staff was aware through media reports of at least 40 fatalities between April 1st and April 30th, including 12 involving children younger than 16 years of age.

CPSC data indicates that ATV-related deaths jump on average 30 percent from March to April for children younger than 16 years of age. Adult deaths increase 88 percent on average for the same timeframe. During 2003-2005, ATV-related deaths rose each month during the spring and into the summer, peaking in July, when 23 children and 76 adults were killed in ATV-related incidents on average.

“If springtime deaths and injuries are an indication of what’s to come, we urge all ATV riders, young and old, to take all necessary safety precautions,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “Far too many people are losing their lives and sustaining life-threatening injuries, which in many cases are preventable. CPSC is working diligently to ensure that the ATVs on the market meet mandatory standards and to promote safe riding practices.”

In April 2009, as a part of the requirements for a CPSC approved action plan for ATV manufacturers and distributors, it became mandatory for these companies to offer free, hands-on training through their dealers to first-time purchasers and age appropriate members of their immediate families within a reasonable time from purchase.

Moreover, as another element of approving ATV action plans CPSC requires companies to also offer first-time purchasers an incentive valued at $100 for taking the hands-on training offered by the ATV Safety Institute (ASI). ASI also offers online training for experienced ATV riders.

Many ATV-related deaths and injuries are preventable. CPSC encourages all ATV riders, young and old, to make this riding season safer by following the basic rules of the trail:

• Take a hands-on safety training course

• Always wear protective gear – especially a helmet – when riding ATVs

• Do not ride or drive a single-rider ATV with a passenger or ride as a passenger

• Do not drive ATVs on paved roads

• Do not permit children younger than 16 to drive or ride adult ATVs. Always choose an age-appropriate ATV for your child

Recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), also known as side-by-sides, have grown in popularity in recent years, and CPSC wants riders and passengers to know that they are different from ATVs. Unlike ATVs, ROVs have a steering wheel, bench or bucket seats, seatbelts, foot controls and a roll cage. They, too, are associated with a number of fatalities and injuries every year.

Keep safety first when using both off road vehicle types. To learn more, visit ATVSafety.gov. Please download our ATV Safety PSAs at www.atvsafety.gov/pr.html

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › CPSC warns Memorial Day weekend among deadliest times for ATV riders

According to the news release, the CPSC staff’s preliminary evaluations indicate that the vehicles may exhibit inadequate lateral stability, undesirable steering characteristics, and inadequate occupant protection during a rollover crash. The staff reviewed the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) draft proposed American National Standards for Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles, ANSI/ROHVA 1-200X and “found preliminarily that it does not adequately address the deaths and injuries associated with ROV rollovers and collisions.”

In a statement issued by CPSC Oct. 21, Chairman Inez Tenenbaum says, “The need for federal rulemaking on ROVs is the consequence of not having a voluntary standard that effectively safeguards consumers. I have reviewed numerous death and injury reports tied to ROVs and I believe CPSC can play a vital role in making them safer. While we work on new safety rules for ROVs, I urge all riders and passengers to strap on a helmet, use the seat belt, know the terrain, and never allow anyone under 16 to drive these vehicles.”

During the ANPR process, the CPSC is inviting the public to submit written comments regarding the risks of injury associated with ROVs, and suggestions for ways in which these risks could be addressed.  Comments will be accepted for 60 days following publication of the ANPR.

Comments can be submitted at www.regulations.gov.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › CPSC to address rising death toll on recreational off-highway vehicles

The recall involves all Rhino 450, 660 and 700 model vehicles. According to an official news release, the CPSC staff has investigated more than 50 incidents involving 46 driver and passenger deaths related to the Rhino. They report more than two-thirds of the cases involved rollovers, and many appear to involve turns at relatively low speed and on level terrain.

Beasley Allen attorney and Product Liability section head Cole Portis has reviewed over 75 Yamaha Rhino rollover claims in the past two years. He says,”We are concerned that this recall, while a good first step, does not address the inherent design flaws that make the Yamaha Rhino so susceptible to low-speed rollovers. However, I remain hopeful that this government recall will serve as a wake-up call and that Yamaha will re-evaluate their practice of putting profits over people. ”

The recall originally only included the 450 and 660 models, but within a day of the announcement the CPSC added the 700 model as well. The recall includes about 120,000 of the 450 and 660 models and 25,000 of the 700 models.

Yamaha will suspend sales of the vehicles until they are repaired, and consumers are urged to stop riding the vehicles until repairs are made.

Yamaha’s recommended repair includes the installation of a spacer on the rear wheels and removal of the rear anti-sway bar to help reduce the chance of rollover and improve vehicle handling. The repair also includes installation of half doors and additional passenger hand-holds, which Yamaha already recommended after earlier reports of rollover injuries.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › CPSC, Yamaha recall Rhino vehicles

The Ledger Dispatch reports the driver, who was from Livermore, received “major injuries” to his neck and face, and was airlifted to Sutter Roseville Medical Center for treatment. The passenger, a resident of Galt, endured injuries to her neck and right arm and also was airlifted for treatment, to Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael.

According to the news agency, the accident occurred Aug. 30 at close to 2:30 p.m., when the driver steered into a sharp left turn and the vehicle rolled over. Neither the driver nor the passenger were wearing seatbelts or helmets at the time of the accident, the report states.

The Ledger Dispath noted the Yamaha Rhino has been linked to rollovers since its introduction in 2003, and cites a report from U.S. Recall News, saying riders and passengers have suffered “debilitating fractures” when pinned under the weight of the vehicle. The two teens injured in the Saturday accident were in a 2007 model Yamaha Rhino.

In August 2007, the Yamaha Motor Corporation sent a safety bulletin to Rhino owners advising that the vehicle could be returned to Yamaha dealers for installation of new safety equipment – doors and passenger handholds, to improve the vehicle’s safety following numerous reports of rollover accidents and injuries.

The 2007 Yamaha Rhino owner’s manual was updated to include the new doors and handholds, and Rhino owners were provided a supplemental guide about the new safety features, and a label for the Rhino dashboard outlining the risk of vehicle rollover. Doors and passenger handholds were made standard features in the 2008 model of the Yamaha Rhino.

It is unclear from the Ledger Dispatch report whether the Yamaha Rhino involved in the weekend’s rollover accident had doors or handholds.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › Labor Day weekend Rhino rollover

According to reports on local television station NBC15, the rollover occured on private property in the area of Lancaster, Wis., on Sunday morning. The report says the Rhino rolled over, pinning young Andrew. The boy was transported to the hospital by local emergency response personnel and then life-flighted to Madison, Wis., where he passed away. His father suffered a broken leg in the accident.

The family, no doubt, suffers a broken heart.

Sadly, this is just the latest in a series of tragic events associated with the Yamaha Rhino, which is suspected of design flaws that make the vehicle fundamentally unstable. While the details of the Wisconsin accident have not been released, information on the company’s web site, www.yamaha-motor.com and in the Yamaha Rhino Owner’s Manual acknowledges that “abrupt maneuvers or aggressive driving have caused rollovers – even on flat, open areas.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to this family.

Please, please use extreme caution if you own and operate a vehicle of this nature, and do not allow very young children to ride with you. Parents are certainly going to be careful when navigating a Rhino with a child aboard, but experience has shown that even the most cautious operator can find himself in the midst of sudden tragedy when an unstable vehicle rolls over and helpless passengers are thrown.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › child killed in Rhino rollover

According to the story, Rhino operators are discovering that side-by-side off-road vehicles such as theirs are technically classified as ORVs, which may be subject to different legislation than ATVs, including requiring operators to register the vehicle, wear a helmet and carry proof of insurance.

Provincial legislation draws a clear distinction between ATVs and ORVs, classifying an all-terrain vehicle as having saddle-seating designed for one person, and handlebars, while Rhinos are technically off-road vehicles – they have a steering wheel, bench seats, and are designed for up to four people.

A quick search for ORV and ATV regulations reveals that most U.S. states have various laws governing the operation of these types of vehicles, and also different ways of classifying them. Some states draw a clear distinction between ATVs and ORVs, while others are not as specific. Many times, the terms are used interchangeably.

In many states, an ATV or ORV must be titled – this is proof of ownership. Additionally, some states require that an off-road vehicle is registered for riding on public land and roads, and ATVs are only permitted on public land and roads that are clearly designated for use by off-highway vehicles (OHVs or ORVs).

According to information provided by the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, in Alabama, any vehicle used on public roads must be registered, titled, and tagged by the Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). However, there is an exemption for both ATVs and ORVs. If you have a vehicle used only on your own property or off-road, you do not have to register, title, or tag it.

Each state is different, so ATV and ORV owners should check with their state for distinctions and regulations.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › ATV or ORV?

The truth is, I come across these types of stories almost every day. Happy bloggers talk about their new Rhino or other ATV, looking forward to exciting times with their young children and posting photos similar to the one of Pitt. It makes me cringe to see small kids, sometimes with no helmet or other protective gear, pictured in these vehicles.

Almost as often, I read the stories of broken bones and lost loved ones as a joyride turns into tragedy.

ATVs are meant to be fun, of course, but they should be treated using extreme care and caution. Young people, in particular, should be properly trained about how to safely operate them and should always wear protective gear. These are NOT toys. These are pieces of heavy machinery with powerful engines. A Yamaha Rhino weighs more than 1,000 pounds.

The All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute (ASI), a not-for-profit division of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA), provides safety tips for ATV riders, including a caution that adults should closely supervise children younger than 16 on these vehicles. The organization also recommends that all ATV riders take a safety course.

Seeing a 2-year-old in her father’s arms on a Rhino in particular is scary. I’m sure he was going at a slow speed, and I’m sure he thought he was being careful. But pending claims against this particular vehicle allege that design defects make the Rhino fundamentally unstable. Information provided by the company’s web site, www.yamaha-motor.com and in the Yamaha Rhino Owner’s Manual acknowledges that “abrupt maneuvers or aggressive driving have caused rollovers – even on flat, open areas.”

Thankfully, Pitt will only have to endure the criticisms of the public, rather than the heartbreak of serious injury caused by his thoughtless action. I hope that as his celebrity status spreads the story, others will get the message that ATVs can be dangerous. Unfortunately, however, his action may instead be imitated by others who won’t be so lucky.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › Pitt toddler Rhino ride causes stir

Fortunately, the girls were not hurt, but Uncle D ended up with a compound fracture in his arm and shoulder, with bones breaking the skin and a lot of blood loss. A family friend, the father of one of the girls thrown clear in the accident, is an EMT, and was able to free Uncle D from under the Rhino, where he had been pinned, and stabilize him until he could be transported to the emergency room. He underwent surgery, where he had rods and pins inserted to hold the bones, and a week’s stay in the hospital.

What should have been a weekend full of family fun, barbecue and camping turned into a near tragedy and serious injury. Too many people are still unaware of the dangers of ATVs, and, in particular, the Yamaha Rhino, which is believed to have a design defect that makes it more liable than most to roll over, even on flat ground.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › Family 4th marred by rollover

Ryan was only 10 years old at the time of the accident, which occurred about 14 months ago. Albert is still recovering from his injuries, which included a broken tibia, fractures, broken bones and infection. He is on crutches and has undergone several operations. The full story is in the Press Republican, which serves northeastern New York.

This incident has a relatively happy outcome, in that Ryan was able to save his father, but it adds to a growing list of serious injuries and deaths resulting from accidents involving the Yamaha Rhino. The Rhino has been in production since 2003, and since that time there have been numerous instances of rollovers, which have led to allegations of a fundamental design defect in the ATV that causes it to be unstable and easy to roll.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › New York boy saves father in rollover

According to the paper, the suit alleges the ATV was “in a defective condition, unreasonably dangerous” and “not fit for its intended use and reasonably foreseeable purposes.” Causes of actions filed against the defendants include strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranty.

The report went on to say that though the lawsuit does not detail the Rhino’s alleged defects, recent lawsuits against Yamaha’s Rhino allege that the ATV’s center of gravity is too high, it is too top heavy and the tires too small. Further, the lawsuits state that the Rhino has a high rollover risk even while riding on flat surfaces while at low speeds.

In 2008, Yamaha upgraded the Rhino ATV to add doors and handholds, responding to concerns that drivers and passengers were extending arms and legs outside the vehicle in the event of a rollover, attempting to stabilize the vehicle. It also added a safety sticker on the dashboard warning Rhino operators and passengers not to do this.

A letter was sent to owners of earlier Rhino models advising them that doors and handholds would be installed at no charge to them. However, concerns exist that people who purchased earlier model Rhinos from individuals rather than dealers might not be aware of the safety hazards and might not know about the recommended door and handhold installation.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › Unreasonably Dangerous

The paper says the Kentucky State Police report indicates Colley was riding with a 13-year-old boy on a 2008 Yamaha Rhino ATV along railroad tracks. The statement said the ATV got stuck in the gravel on the railroad tracks and Colley and the boy were trying to free the vehicle when it went into a nearby creek on top of them.

In a separate incident, Castle was a passenger on an ATV driven by a 17-year-old boy, when the ATV hit a bump in the road and overturned. The driver was taken to the hospital, and Castle died of her injuries.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › ATVs claim 2

Some 75 percent of the ATV accidents result in serious damage to the head or spinal cord of the accident victim. Head injuries are a major cause of serious life threatening or lifelong physical problems and ailments. Injury to the spinal cord can result in paralysis of the entire body for life.

Most of the deaths and injuries to children are the result of youngsters riding adult-size ATVs, and consumer groups say the agency needs to do more to keep kids off ATVs that are too big and too powerful for them. Consumer advocates have called on the CPSC to ban the sale of adult-size ATVs for use for children. The agency has declined to do that.

There is only a voluntary agreement in place with major ATV distributors in which they require dealers not to sell adult-size ATVs to people who might allow children to ride them. Consumer groups say few dealers abide by the rule.

SOURCE: Yamaha Rhino Rollover › Report Outlines Danger