| Popis: |
Introduced in 1971 for use in outdoor occupations such as farming and construction, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are motorized three- or four-wheeled cycles designed for riding in off-road areas. Despite their occupational intent, ATVs have become extremely popular in the United States as a recreational vehicle for both children and adults alike, with approximately 2.4 million ATVs currently in use (Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention, 2000). In 1988 the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the sale of 3-wheeled ATVs and established safety guidelines for the use of 4-wheelers. Despite these safety guidelines, a steady increase in the popularity of 4-wheeled ATVs in recent years has been accompanied by an increase in moderate to severe injuries and deaths, which has many policy makers, researchers, consumer groups, and physician organizations rallying for more stringent ATV laws, including mandatory helmet laws. Laws, however, will not impact ATV behaviors in rural America for two reasons: 1) ATVs are used primarily in rural country settings and out-of-the-way country roads where ATV laws would be difficult to enforce and 2) ATVs have become woven into the routine occupational and recreational lives of rural populations. In lieu of policy, anthropologic methods should be used to elucidate the cultural underpinnings of ATV use in rural areas through which culturally relevant safety education programs could be developed. |
