Consumer Product Safety Chairman Hal Stratton previously opposed more regulation, arguing voluntary industry standards and rider education were the keys to safety. But rising fatalities and serious injuries to riders - particularly youngsters - prompted him to review the matter.

Since 1982, ATV accidents have resulted in 6,000 deaths nationally, according to the federal agency's records. About a third were riders age 16 and under.

"This orders a full top-to-bottom review of any and all regulations that could be done to really make a difference in reducing the number of injuries and deaths," agency spokesman Leonardo Alcivar said Thursday.

Concern about ATV injuries has grown in Utah as well - right along with the burgeoning sales of the versatile machines.

Between 1999 and 2003, 51 Utahns died in ATV accidents. More than 1,000 suffered injuries serious enough to require hospitalization, according to state figures.

In the past five years, 527 children under age 10 were treated in Utah emergency rooms with ATV injuries, according to state statistics.

"We see too many children getting hurt," said Cyndi Bemis of the Utah Health Department's violence and injury prevention program. "When you look at the numbers, it makes us sad."

ATVs are heavy and the new models are even more powerful, Bemis said.

"And they are prone to tipping," she said. "Even with a helmet, they cause crushing head and body injuries, especially to children."

Already this year in Utah, four deaths have been reported in ATV accidents. Two of the victims were under 16.

In 2002, a petition filed by doctors and consumer groups to ban sales of adult ATVs to children under 16 was ignored by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

In March, Rachel Weintraub of the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America told the agency that the industry's self-regulation program is not working.

"Not only has it led to larger and faster ATVs and more children being killed and injured, but each year the number of deaths and injuries climb," Weintraub said.

But a ban on ATVs for kids would "just be wrong," said Rainer Huck, president of Utah Shared Access Alliance. "Why not ban sales of bicycles to kids under 16? There are many people who are badly injured on bicycles."

Huck said a change in policy would come only out of bias.

"There are groups out there who have animus against ATVs," he said. "ATV recreation is a wonderful family sport. To say parents cannot enjoy it with their children is wrong."

With training, supervision and the right size machine, ATVs can be safe, said Eric Stucki, OHV education specialist for the state Division of Parks and Recreation.

Since its inception in 1987, the Parks and Recreation program has trained 30,000 ATV riders, Stucki said. "Our ATV education program works and our kids [from the program] aren't represented in the deaths and accidents statistics."

Stucki met with the federal Consumer Product Safety chairman last fall and said Stratton was considering whether the agency should mandate programs like the one Utah now offers.

But a larger issue is adults allowing their children to ride machines that are too big for them.

Although manufacturers produce ATVs designed for youngsters of various ages, adult machines are often sold to families in which children become the frequent riders, Stucki said.

"That's when kids get into trouble," he said. "When they attempt a turn, they can't reach the hand brake or the foot brake. It's an accident waiting to happen."

csmart@sltrib.com

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.