EXCLUSIVE: THE ATV industry has staged a dramatic retreat from its campaign against fitting crush-protection devices.

Last week, the world's seven largest manufacturers pulled the plug on their "Never Fit Roll-Over Protection Systems" website.

The website had warned ATV buyers safety add-ons such as roll bars "can cause injury and death".

Last month, The Weekly Times revealed that US research the campaign was based upon was flawed.

Forensic engineer John Lambert said the findings were based on computer models that failed to simulate real accidents.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries last week pulled its key position paper from its own website.

The paper had claimed the use of anti-crush devices "would increase the likely incidence of deaths and serious injuries" in rollovers.

FCAI spokesman Rhys Griffiths admitted the paper had been removed, but said he had been directed by ATV makers not to discuss the issue.

"There's a couple of issues, linked to your publication (The Weekly Times)," Mr Griffiths said.

But he refused to divulge whether the campaign was pulled for legal reasons.

Slater and Gordon legal consultant Peter Long said ATV manufacturers could face legal action from anyone who decided against fitting a Roll-Over Protection System in response to the manufacturers' "Never Fit ROPS" campaign - but was then injured in a rollover.

"They could take (legal) action if they relied on that campaign in making that decision and it can be shown to be misleading - that the campaign was flawed," Mr Long said.

The national death toll involving ATVs has risen to 21 this year.

A 34-year-old woman from Walcha in NSW was killed in a rollover at the weekend.

Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety director Tony Lower said: "At least some of these deaths could have been prevented by a better-designed quad bike or if it had some sort of crush protection.

"I encourage everyone to think about whether a quad is right for the job and if they think it is, then to fit a crush- protection device."