Motorized Recreational Vehicle/Craft Safety

Approved October 2006
Reaffirmed by the ACEP Board of Directors October 2006
Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors September 2000 and replaced a Board Motion titled, "All-Terrain Vehicles" originally approved September 1986 and rescinded in September 2000 

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) supports the development and implementation of programs, policies, legislation, and regulations that will increase the safety of individuals using personal-use motorized recreational vehicles/craft. These measures should emphasize the shared responsibility of owners, operators, and manufacturers to ensure the safety of riders and bystanders and must include the prohibition of children operators, the mandatory use of safety equipment and mandatory safety training and testing of all operators.

ACEP encourages a coordinated effort by recreation enthusiasts, manufacturers, federal and state agencies, and the medical community to reduce injury and death associated with the use of motorized recreational vehicles/craft. The manufacturer should specify vehicle/craft-specific required protective equipment, minimum driver training, and minimum height, weight and age requirements for operators.