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Mr . BARNARD . It seems we have another vote on the floor , and I think before we hear the next wit

nk before we hear the next witness , what we will do is we will adjourn for 5 or 10 minutes , and then will come right back to the hearing .

[ Recess taken . ] Mr . BARNARD . The subcommittee will come to order . Mr . Schmitt , I believe you had finished your testimony . Mr . SCHMITT . I have concluded , sir . Thank you . Mr . BARNARD . Mr . Hagie . STATEMENT OF ROGER F . HAGIE , MANAGER , GOVERNMENT

RELATIONS , KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP : , U . S . A . Mr . HAGIE . Thank you , Mr . Chairman , my name is Roger F . Hagie . I am appearing before you today as the government rela tions manager for Kawasaki Motors Corp . , U . S . A .

We share this subcommittee ' s concern regarding the injuries to ATV users , and we are strongly committed to promoting the safe use of all - terrain vehicles .

We believe that we are developing , hopefully in cooperation with the CPSC , an effective program to achieve this goal . We began pro duction of ATV ' s in 1980 , several years after these vehicles had first appeared on the market . A wide range of vehicle configura tions , operating environments , and eventual vehicle uses were con sidered in the testing and development of our vehicles . We manu facture all of our three - wheel ATV ' s in Lincoln , NE .

In our view , the ATV should be a small lightweight vehicle capa ble of a wide variety of recreational and utility uses . Such a vehicle has several essential characteristics . I would like to take a minute to discuss some of them .

Certainly , the most obvious is the large tires . These large - size low - pressure tires have the capability to operate over hard or soft surfaces . This is very important . The vehicle must have sufficient ground clearance , particularly underneath the engine and chassis and the rider ' s foot pegs , to be able to traverse uneven terrain without bottoming out or without having the rider ' s foot strike an object .

It must have , consistent with the other requirements , the lowest possible center of gravity . And it must have a riding position which facilitates the rider ' s ability to move around on the vehicle , to interact with the vehicle in the manner described as rider active . In so doing , these vehicles are operated using a combination of techniques such as weight transfer and speed control , not unlike many other recreational activities or other types of vehicles to which the populace is attracted .

Analysis of the injury data received by Kawasaki indicates that two - thirds of the accidents of which we are aware occurred to novice or first - time riders . Based upon our experience with this type of information and with our vehicles , we believe that the best way , the fastest way , the obvious way , of reducing injuries from all terrain vehicle accidents is to bring the new rider safely through the learning period with guidance and instruction .

We are fully committed to the safe operation and use of ATV ' s . We provide what we feel are clear and informative safety recom