Opinions - Others' Views

Saturday, Aug. 09, 2008

Enact age limits on ATV operators

At least 555 people, including 111 children, died riding all-terrain vehicles in 2006, according to The Consumer Product Safety Commission. Injuries related to ATVs for that same year totaled 146,600, up 10,000 from the year prior.

Last year about this time, we wrote on the subject, noting that the South Carolina Legislature had attempted to institute laws that would better regulate ATV operation, especially for children. Yet the measure was vetoed by Gov. Mark Sanford, citing that "the law would be difficult to enforce and would infringe on private property rights."

At the very least, there should be limits on the age of an operator. We are both saddened and outraged to read stories such as this latest report from the newspaper in Rock Hill:

"A 7-year-old boy has died after the all-terrain vehicle he was driving ran into the path of a tractor-trailer at his grandparents' house in York County. The boy was wearing a helmet when he drove the four-wheeler down his grandparents' driveway and into the path of a passing pulpwood truck."

The child, who would have been a first-grader in a few days, didn't have a chance. But he should have.

While researching safety statistics on ATVs and children, we found a report in a Texas newspaper that began with the writer's assertion that children are rightly "becoming acquainted with driving by 'practicing' on all-terrain vehicles."

Ridiculous.

No 7-year-old needs to be practicing for when he or she will be able to drive a car.

As we said last year, if ATVs are operated properly and with safety precautions, as well as the benefit of a course on safe operation, whoever is willing to plunk down the cash is within his or her rights to own one.

But please, don't put a child in the driver's seat. You may live to regret it.