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STATEMENT

ON ALL - TERRAIN VEHICLES

BY COMMISSIONER CAROL G . DAWSON

BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE , CONSUMER , AND MONETARY AFFAIRS

MAY 21 , 1985

Thank you , Mr . Chairman , for giving me this opportunity to offer my comments on the situation regarding All - Terrain Vehicles ( ATVS ) .

I welcome congressional inquiry into the work that the Consumer Product Safety Commission is conducting on the ATV issue . I think it will show that the agency is greatly concerned about the safety issues presented by these popular off - road machines . It has initiated a comprehensive plan to assess the problem , leaving its ultimate regulatory options open .

There is no question but that the statistics on ATV - related deaths and

injuries are grim . Any time a consumer product produces an estimated

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70 , 000 injuries in a year and is associated with what are now at least 161 deaths , we should all be concerned . As we work to find solutions , however , we need to keep in mind that we are dealing with a unique consumer product about which we know very little . The answers will come , and it is my hope that our seven - point program will provide as many of those answers as quickly as possible .

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