By John Moritz
Associated Press
RALEIGH – Negotiations in the North Carolina General Assembly over a large regulatory reform bill will likely leave out a plan to allow children as young as 6 to ride all-terrain vehicles, a senator behind the proposal said.
Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie, said this week he would support a compromise to keep the state’s minimum age requirement for the popular four-wheelers at 8, in order to ease other regulations for younger riders to standards supported by the ATV industry. Brock said the differences between the state and federal standards place a burden on manufacturers and dealers of ATVs.
Children’s health advocates do not support standards allowing young children to ride any ATVs, arguing that the vehicles are inherently dangerous. But Rob Thompson, the senior policy director for NC Child, said getting rid of the proposal to lower the minimum age is a “great step” toward a compromise advocates would not likely argue against.
The current minimum age of 8 was set in 2005 as part of another compromise between health advocates and the ATV industry, and included restrictions on children under 16 from riding in vehicles with larger engines. In 2010, the ATV industry updated its nationwide standards for vehicles designed for children by imposing restrictions for different age groups based on speed, not engine size. Under the industry standards, children between 6 and 9 can ride smaller vehicles with a maximum speed of 15 mph.
The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, which represents the ATV industry, did not return a request for comment Monday.
North Carolina saw a 59 percent reduction in childhood deaths from ATV accidents following the 2005 law, according to a report by the North Carolina Child Fatality Prevention Team, a task force funded by the state.
The Senate proposal does not change a part of the law making it illegal for parents to allow children under 16 to ride ATVs without adult supervision.
The proposed changes to ATV restrictions were included among a 50-page regulatory reform bill passed by the Senate earlier this month. An earlier version passed by the House did not include many of the Senate’s proposals, including those on ATV regulations, and the two chambers will likely work to find a compromise during this summer session.
Source: Senator: Lower Age to Drive ATVs Not Likely in Reform Bill.