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American National Standards Institute Approves
First Standard for Recreational Off-Highway
Vehicles
Recreational
Off-Highway Vehicle Association Continues
Pioneering Work In Support of Consensus
Standards and Occupant Safety
IRVINE, Calif., March 12, 2010 - The
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
(ROHVA) obtained approval by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) of the first
standard in the world for recreational
off-highway vehicles (ROVs), also known as UTVs
and side-by-sides, on March 5, 2010, setting an
initial benchmark for vehicle design,
configuration and performance. To allow it to
continue to address ROV performance criteria in
this expanding vehicle class, ROHVA initiated
the ANSI process for revising the newly approved
standard on March 9. As part of the
revision process, ROHVA also will continue its
efforts to solicit and exchange information and
views with the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) and its staff. "We are
pleased to have completed the initial version of
the standard and look forward to the
participation of the ANSI consensus body in the
revision process," said ROHVA Chairman, Mike
Schmitt.
Over a period of 26 months, the ROHVA
Technical Advisory Panel worked expeditiously to
develop the ANSI standard, analyzing and
debating the complex issues and competing
objectives associated with this unique class of
vehicles. At the same time, ROHVA was
concerned that operator and passenger behavior -
largely in violation of existing warnings -
contributed to crashes resulting in avoidable
injuries and fatalities. In response, ROHVA
became the first, and remains the only, national
entity with a unified plan to educate consumers
and to attempt to change behavior to increase
safety, as a supplement to all of the individual
manufacturer and distributor efforts.
ROHVA has drafted Model State Legislation that
would mandate compliance with the ROV Safety
Rules (www.rohva.org).
ROHVA also is developing a state-of-the-art
online learning program to further convey and
instill critical safety messages.
"ROHVA remains hopeful that CPSC and other
stakeholders will partner with ROHVA to promote
these important initiatives, which are focused
on changing behavior. CPSC data suggests
that if we can change certain behaviors, we will
improve the safety of operators and passengers,"
said Paul Vitrano, ROHVA executive vice
president.
Initially published in November 2008, the ROV
Safety Rules urge operators and passengers to:
- Always wear a helmet and other
protective gear, use the seat belts, and
keep all parts of your body inside the ROV.
- Never drive on paved roads except to
cross when done safely and permitted by law.
ROVs are designed to be operated
off-highway.
- Drive only in designated areas, at a
safe speed, and use care when turning and
crossing slopes.
- Never drive under the influence of
alcohol or other drugs.
- Never drive an ROV unless you're 16 or
older or have a driver's license. ROVs are
not toys.
- Never carry more passengers than the ROV
is designed for, and never allow a passenger
who is too small to sit in a passenger seat
to ride in the ROV.
- Read and follow the operator's manual
and warning labels.
About The Recreational
Off-Highway Vehicle Association
The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle
Association is a national industry organization
that promotes the safe and responsible use of
ROVs. ROHVA is accredited by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop
equipment, configuration and performance
standards. Based in Irvine, Calif., the
not-for-profit association is sponsored by
Arctic Cat, BRP, Polaris and Yamaha. For more
information visit
www.rohva.org.
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