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Mass. Tries To Raise ATV Driving Age

BOSTON (WBZ) ― It's the beginning of the season for riders of all terrain vehicles. But are all terraign vehicles, or ATVs, an opportunity for family fun, or a danger to children? Trying to answer that question has led to a fight over raising the riding age in Massachusetts.

Some people are worried about kids driving four wheelers and crashing, leading to deaths and serious injuries. Carolyn Anderson's son James was 14 when he went away with friends. Unknown to Carolyn, the family her son was with had ATVs. James took one for a ride and crashed into a tree.

"He never came home from that trip," Anderson said.

Anderson and other parents started the advocacy group "Concerned Families For ATV Safety" to try to strengthen state laws across the country.

"The year my son was killed there were 44,700 kids admitted to hospital emergency rooms with ATV injuries," she says.

"The only way to stop the problem is to essentially prohibit their use," says Sean Kane.

Kane is a member of the Massachusetts Prevent Injuries Now Network -- a group wants state law changed so that no one under 16 can drive an ATV.

"When we see a disproportionate number of deaths and injuries to children, you have to question just how family oriented that sport really is," says Kane.

The current law in Massachusetts prohibits anyone under 10 years of age from operating an ATV. Ten- to- 14-year-olds must have adult supervision. Safety advocates say that's too young and that the state law for ATVs should be the same as the law for jet skis, that is, a driver must be at least 16 years old. But a lot of ATV enthusiasts are against raising the driving age. They say kids should take part in safety training and have the opportunity to learn to ride safely.

According to Ken Anderson, the president of the Massachusetts ATV Association, "It's up to parents to both be aware of what their children are doing and teach the children. Done correctly, it's as safe as any other family activity."

Tracy Tinkham of Middleton heads the East Coast Riding Club and opposes raising the driving age.

"It's taking away from responsible people," he says. And he is responsible. He controls the keys to his family's ATV's and always supervises his 13-year-old son, Dylan, when they ride.

"You leave it up to the parent. If the parent cannot control the child on the machine and the child takes the machine and gets caught, the parent should suffer a large penalty," he says.

According to Dylan Tinkham, "Most people are responsible when they ride. I know me and all my friends are."

ATVs come in a variety of sizes. However, some people who want to raise the driving age for ATVs say younger children are not equipped to handle even the smaller, less powerful, machines.

"There's a reason kids don't get a license until they're 16," says Carolyn Anderson from the Concerned Families for ATV Safety. "ATVs are an equivalent motor vehicle, and deserve equivalent treatment," she adds.

There are about 29,000 four-wheelers and other off road vehicles registered in Massachusetts. A bill before the legislature would raise the driving age for ATVs, but it hasn't gone very far.

For more information over the debate about raising the driving age for ATV's in Massachusetts, try these Web sites:

General information:
 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

 National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council

 Northeast ATVers

In favor of raising the ATV driving age:
 Concerned Families for ATV Safety

 Massachusetts Prevent Injuries Now Network

 American Academy of Pediatrics

Opposed to raising the ATV driving age:
 Specialty Vehicle Institute of America/ATV Safety Institute

 Mass. ATV Association

 All Terrain Vehicle Association

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