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ATV riders . However , there has been a reluctance at the state level to establish minimum age , licensing or equipment requirements that would govern ATV ridership on private lands . Perhaps concern over how such requirements would be enforced is responsible for this legisla tive void , but its very existence adds to the sense of responsibility felt by those of us at CPSC .

Ever since the CPSC ' s injury surveillance system - - the NEISS system - - began to indicate the extent of the problem last spring , the CPSC has been moving to address the hazards associated with ATV use . At first , Coumission staff began gathering preliminary engineering , human factors and market data . In addition , it conducted the 169 in - depth investigations I mentioned earlier . Then , in February and March of this year , staff briefed the Commissioners twice , quite extensively , on the ATV situation and presented a mmber of options for dealing with it . The Commissioners considered these carefully and , on April 3rd , adopted a 7 - point ATV plan of action consisting of the following initiatives : ( 1 ) conducting what is known as a hazard analysis , focusing on

the causes of ATV accidents and the potential consumer exposure to them . Additional in - depth investigations will be

a part of this effort ; ( 2 ) carrying out engineering and human factors studies to

determine to what extent performance characteristics and / or operator behavior might be contributing to the problem and how either or both could best be addressed ;