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As reported by Wright and Carpenter (1) and others, the number of accidents resulting in serious injuries and deaths associated with All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use increased dramatically during the 1980s. It was decided that a safer, more stable ATV should be and could be built. Three-wheel and four-wheel ATVs were considered. Two three-wheel ATVs and a four-wheel ATV were modified and fabricated as prototypes. While improvements of the three-wheel ATVs were realized, there were still considerable stability problems that could not be sufficiently corrected. The four-wheel prototype, denoted as RCX 250 (roll cage experimental vehicle with a 250 cc engine), demonstrated feasibility with clear improvements in safety. Analysis of the dynamics of the RCX 250 along with the description of the features and the test results are discussed.

All-Terrain Vehicles, usually called ATVs, are small motorized vehicles operating on three, four, or five low-pressure, high flotation tires that are “designed” for off-road use on a variety of terrains. As the use of these ATVs increased through the 1980's, the number of accidents resulting in serious injuries and deaths associated with A N use increased dramatically. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) along with other surveys have estimated that one out of every 25 ATVs being used will be involved in an accident requiring professional medical attention. These problems led to the federal government working out an agreement with the major manufacturers of these vehicles. One aspect of the agreement was that there would be safety and stability standards that all ATVs would have to meet to be sold in this country.