Potential benefit of the quadbar™ on all-terrain vehicles

Abstract

An epidemic exists related to all-terrain vehicle (ATV) fatal and nonfatal injuries in the United States and in Australia as well as in other countries. More than 60% of these injuries are associated with ATV overturns. While behavior-related methods have failed to abate this epidemic, engineered interventions have been lacking. However, one technology, the Quadbar™ (QB), shows promise as a crush prevention device for reducing overturn-related injuries and their severity. The question addressed in this study is “What is the potential public health and economic benefit of the QB when used on ATVs?” At 40% effectiveness, our model estimated that 5082 injuries related to ATV overturns would be prevented per 100,000 ATVs equipped with QBs. The overall societal economic benefit was estimated at US$3,943 per ATV that greatly exceeds the QB purchase price of US$478, which represents an 8:1 return on investment.