The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced its intention to regulate “recreational off-highway vehicles” (ROVs), rejecting as inadequate a voluntary industry standard.

ROVs can attain speeds greater than 30 miles per hour and are configured differently than all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). ROVs have four or more low-pressure tires and generally accommodate a side-by-side driver/passenger in a compartment equipped with roll bars. The vehicles are not regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since they are intended for off-road, recreational use only. The CPSC cited concerns that the vehicles may exhibit inadequate lateral stability, undesirable steering characteristics and inadequate occupant crash protection during a rollover. The agency has requested public comments on ways to reduce the risks it associates with ROVs. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.