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Feds Probe Yamaha Rhino ATV
The Yamaha Rhino has been a big hit with off-road enthusiasts but a series of fatal accidents is making it a hit with personal injury lawyers and federal regulators as well.
At least 30 people have died in Rhino accidents and hundreds have been injured, according to federal statistics. Hundreds of lawsuits are pending as a result.
The two-seat vehicle resembles a cross between a golf cart and an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). It's a popular design that enthusiasts say makes the Rhino fun to drive but the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating whether stricter regulations are needed to make the Rhino safer, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Because of its unique design, the Rhino isn't subject to ATV safety standards, which aren't exactly five-star anyway. A recent report found that for the eighth year in a row, serious injuries caused by all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) increased in 2007, and children under age 16 continued to suffer a significant portion of those injuries.
Instead of classifying it as an ATV, the CPSC calls the Rhino a "utility terrain vehicle," or UTV. There are no official standards for UTVs, but that may change as the safety agency continues its probe.
The Rhino falls into what the CPSC calls the "emerging hazard" category -- a niche sometimes created by crafty manufacturers who find ways to work around existing safety regulations.
The Rhino, for example, has a steering wheel
instead of the handlebars usually found on ATVs. That and other relatively minor differences leave it in category limbo -- neither car nor ATV -- and thus unregulated and unlicensed.
Since they're not regarded as cars, UTVs don't need licenses and can generally be operated by anyone, including children, which is a large part of the problem as regulators and consumer advocates see it.
At least 30 people have died in Rhino accidents and hundreds have been injured, according to federal statistics. Hundreds of lawsuits are pending as a result.
The two-seat vehicle resembles a cross between a golf cart and an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). It's a popular design that enthusiasts say makes the Rhino fun to drive but the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating whether stricter regulations are needed to make the Rhino safer, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Because of its unique design, the Rhino isn't subject to ATV safety standards, which aren't exactly five-star anyway. A recent report found that for the eighth year in a row, serious injuries caused by all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) increased in 2007, and children under age 16 continued to suffer a significant portion of those injuries.
Instead of classifying it as an ATV, the CPSC calls the Rhino a "utility terrain vehicle," or UTV. There are no official standards for UTVs, but that may change as the safety agency continues its probe.
The Rhino falls into what the CPSC calls the "emerging hazard" category -- a niche sometimes created by crafty manufacturers who find ways to work around existing safety regulations.
The Rhino, for example, has a steering wheel
instead of the handlebars usually found on ATVs. That and other relatively minor differences leave it in category limbo -- neither car nor ATV -- and thus unregulated and unlicensed.
Since they're not regarded as cars, UTVs don't need licenses and can generally be operated by anyone, including children, which is a large part of the problem as regulators and consumer advocates see it.
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