One of the best selling all terrain vehicles (ATV) available today, the Yamaha Rhino is continually raising concern for its questionable safety. Made available to consumer for the first time in 2003, the Rhino is being blamed for several life threatening injuries, as well as fatalities. Though questions continue to be raised in regard to the safety of the Rhinos’ design, Yamaha has not admitted any fault pertaining to this ATV, and thus it is still available to consumers for purchase.

Here are some findings from an ATV accident study to consider:

* The estimated number of deaths associated with ATVs has risen nearly 180 percent from 276 deaths in 1995 to 767 in 2004, the most recent year that fatality data was available from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

* Estimated non-fatal injuries requiring a trip to the emergency room rose more than 150 percent from 53,600 visits in 1996 to 136,700 visits in 2005.

* Children under 16 years of age accounted for about one-quarter of the deaths and one-third of the injuries.

* Among children, girls accounted for 26 percent of hospitalizations for ATV injuries and 22 percent of bike injuries. Among adults, females accounted for 17 percent of ATV hospitalizations and 22 percent of bicycle injury hospitalizations.

* The average cost of each ATV-related hospitalization was $21,304 compared to $16,478 for bicycle-related hospitalizations.

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