THE builders of ATVs have never been blamed solely during the current debate highlighting the safety concerns of these machines.
Owners, operators, industry and governments have a shared responsibility to lower any death toll.
The statistics are as compelling as they are ugly; a solution simply must be found, doing nothing is not an option.
We welcome one manufacturer's offer to give users the option of buying an ATV with crush protection.
It is an important step, but just one of many which must be made.
Most manufacturers firmly believe crush protection will cause more injuries.
Industry groups such as the National Farmers' Federation eagerly await the test results from the University of NSW before making a more formal call on crush protection. Those results are expected early next year.
We trust the research will form the basis of safety reforms involving users, industry, governments as well as manufacturers.
When people are dying, there is no place for pig-headedness in this debate. One estimate says it would cost about $110 million to retro-fit protection to the nation's 220,000 ATVs.
The Federal Government has ordered roll-over protection to be fitted to all ATVs used by its employees.
It needs to take a greater role than this to change a community mind-set like previous campaigns on tractor safety and even mandatory seat-belts.
Of course, subsidies and enforcement were the tools which won the tractor roll-over debate and something similar will be needed here.
Research has proved most people would have survived their ATV crash if they'd been wearing a helmet.
One solution does not fit all. A combined approach is the only way we will stop more families being ripped apart by tragic events.
