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This paper describes an experimental and epidemiological investigation of the potential application of a specific rollover occupant protection system, consisting of a rollover protective structure and occupant restraint (collectively referred to hereafter as ROPS), to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). The ROPS investigated in this paper was proposed by Dahle [1987] as a means to improve the safety of ATV operation. Crash tests were performed with an unhelmeted instrumented dummy on 4-wheel ATVs equipped with the prototype Dahle ROPS (hereafter referred to as D-ROPS); the test results established that the D-ROPS design exhibited the potential for serious injury or death in lateral rollover, rearward pitchover, collision, and oblique frontal impact accident scenarios. Review of ATV-associated 1986 fatality reports from the U.S.