truespode
Moderator / Wheelie King
- Jun 30, 1999
- 7,985
- 252
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/news/2002/08/22/2002082227375.htm
I hate that the kid was killed and I wish that it didn't happen but in the Upstate there are no riding areas for OHV's and kids end up learning to ride illegally and without supervision for the most part.
Please read the article and send some comments to the author. Just a note saying how bad you feel for the parents and that you hope no knee-jerk reaction is made.
Thanks
PS... if the letter below looks familiar, it should. I have unfortunately sent it to a few newspapers around the nation lately :(
****
I read the report about the child who was killed while riding an ATV. First, my heartfelt condolences go out to the child and the child's family. Unfortunately, accidents happen and however unavoidable they seem to be it is heartwrenching when they do happen.
I ride and race dirtbikes. I am a slow rider still trying to get out of the beginner class at age 30. I know many people who ride and race who range from 4 years old to 60+. I would really hate for this unfortunate incident to lead to any type of restriction. In my opinion it is almost as bad for a knee jerk reaction to occur and take away opportunities for young people as it is for this accident to occur.
In all sports there are accidents. According to Safe Kids in 2000 there were 25,600 All Terrain Vehicle (ATV)-related injuries and nearly 2,400 children were treated for snowmobile-related injuries. That number is much less than the more popular sports offered in the public schools. For example, Safe Kids points out that Baseball has the highest fatality rate among all sports for children ages 5 to 14. Furthermore, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has the following statistics of injury for the year 1998:
Baseball 180,582
Basketball 631,186
Bicycles 577,621
Football 355,247
Those are very popular sports and have a tremendous amount of supervision and guidance incorporated in them. Yet we still have accidents. The answer to avoiding accident's with OHV's, as it is with any port, is not an age restriction that will take away a aluable learning opportunity for the youth. It is ore ducation, more riding opportunities to avoid overcrowding and most importantly, parental involvement.
I know of many young kids who are highly motivated as a result of dirtbikes. From a young age they wanted to ride and they have put forth a tremendous effort to achieve their goals. Whether it is working part time to afford the bike itself or working extra hard with chores and homework to be allowed to ride on the weekend, I see children every week doing their best so they can enjoy their chosen recreation.
From my experience riding OHV's is a great opportunity and character builder for young people. I can show you ten times as many quality young people who have benefited from being involved in dirtbiking at a young age than anyone can show me accidents.
It surprises me that parents and others expect someone
else to be responsible for the safety of their child.
Safety is not a hard lesson to teach and it is all
common sense. Not only when riding but in all parts
of life too. Parents bring there children up not to
walk with their shoes untied and to look both ways
before crossing the street but they appear to
conveniently forget that riding in or on any vehicle
has it's hazards.
I request that as you move forward with this story you please contact the Motorcycle Safety Foundation(http://www.msf-usa.org/) at 1-800-446-9227 and the American Motorcyclist Association (http://www.ama-cycle.org) at (614) 856-1900 for other viewpoints on age restrictions and the proper safety procedures that should be put in place.
Thank you for your time. Again, my heartfelt condolences go out to the injured rider and family.
Sincerely,
Ivan J. Liechty
Spartanburg, SC
South Carolina Off-Road Enthusiasts (www.scohv.org)
AMA Member
I hate that the kid was killed and I wish that it didn't happen but in the Upstate there are no riding areas for OHV's and kids end up learning to ride illegally and without supervision for the most part.
Please read the article and send some comments to the author. Just a note saying how bad you feel for the parents and that you hope no knee-jerk reaction is made.
Thanks
PS... if the letter below looks familiar, it should. I have unfortunately sent it to a few newspapers around the nation lately :(
****
I read the report about the child who was killed while riding an ATV. First, my heartfelt condolences go out to the child and the child's family. Unfortunately, accidents happen and however unavoidable they seem to be it is heartwrenching when they do happen.
I ride and race dirtbikes. I am a slow rider still trying to get out of the beginner class at age 30. I know many people who ride and race who range from 4 years old to 60+. I would really hate for this unfortunate incident to lead to any type of restriction. In my opinion it is almost as bad for a knee jerk reaction to occur and take away opportunities for young people as it is for this accident to occur.
In all sports there are accidents. According to Safe Kids in 2000 there were 25,600 All Terrain Vehicle (ATV)-related injuries and nearly 2,400 children were treated for snowmobile-related injuries. That number is much less than the more popular sports offered in the public schools. For example, Safe Kids points out that Baseball has the highest fatality rate among all sports for children ages 5 to 14. Furthermore, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has the following statistics of injury for the year 1998:
Baseball 180,582
Basketball 631,186
Bicycles 577,621
Football 355,247
Those are very popular sports and have a tremendous amount of supervision and guidance incorporated in them. Yet we still have accidents. The answer to avoiding accident's with OHV's, as it is with any port, is not an age restriction that will take away a aluable learning opportunity for the youth. It is ore ducation, more riding opportunities to avoid overcrowding and most importantly, parental involvement.
I know of many young kids who are highly motivated as a result of dirtbikes. From a young age they wanted to ride and they have put forth a tremendous effort to achieve their goals. Whether it is working part time to afford the bike itself or working extra hard with chores and homework to be allowed to ride on the weekend, I see children every week doing their best so they can enjoy their chosen recreation.
From my experience riding OHV's is a great opportunity and character builder for young people. I can show you ten times as many quality young people who have benefited from being involved in dirtbiking at a young age than anyone can show me accidents.
It surprises me that parents and others expect someone
else to be responsible for the safety of their child.
Safety is not a hard lesson to teach and it is all
common sense. Not only when riding but in all parts
of life too. Parents bring there children up not to
walk with their shoes untied and to look both ways
before crossing the street but they appear to
conveniently forget that riding in or on any vehicle
has it's hazards.
I request that as you move forward with this story you please contact the Motorcycle Safety Foundation(http://www.msf-usa.org/) at 1-800-446-9227 and the American Motorcyclist Association (http://www.ama-cycle.org) at (614) 856-1900 for other viewpoints on age restrictions and the proper safety procedures that should be put in place.
Thank you for your time. Again, my heartfelt condolences go out to the injured rider and family.
Sincerely,
Ivan J. Liechty
Spartanburg, SC
South Carolina Off-Road Enthusiasts (www.scohv.org)
AMA Member
