Abstract
This article discusses several technical and conceptual issues relating to the regulation of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). Qualitative response models are used to analyze a survey of injured persons and a survey of the general population of users. Because the latter did not distinguish injured and noninjured persons, an application of Bayes' rule is used to make inferences about the relationship between the two injury categories, and to consistently estimate injury risk. The article concludes with a discussion of the problem of risk awareness and some policy implications.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fulcher, Debra and Linda, Reiff. (1990). “Update of ATV Deaths and Injuries,” CPSC, Directorate for Epidemiology, Washington, DC, November.
Masis, Michael B. (1988). “An Analysis of All-Terrain Vehicle Advertising, 1980–1987,” Contract CPSC-C-87-1278, Washington, DC, April.
Moses, Leon N. and Ian, Savage. (1989). “The Effect of Airline Pilot Characteristics on Perception of Job Safety Risks,” Journal of Risk and Uncertainty 2, 335–351.
Rodgers, Gregory B. (1990). “Evaluating Product-Related Hazards at the Consumer Product Safety Commission: The Case of All-Terrain Vehicles,” Evaluation Review 3–21.
Rodgers, Gregory B. (1990) “The Market for Used All-Terrain Vehicles: The Information Impact of the Consent Decree,” CPSC, Directorate for Economic Analysis, Washington, DC, December.
Shavell, Steven. (1984). “A Model of the Optimal Use of Liability and Safety Regulation,” Rand Journal of Economics 15, 271–280.
Shavell, Steven (1984). “Liability for Harm versus Regulation of Safety,” Journal of Legal Studies 13, 357–374.
Slovic, Pasul, Baruch, Fischhoff, and Sarah, Lichtenstein. (1979). “Rating the Risks,” Environment 21, 14–20, 36–39.
Trickett, Penelope and Denise C. R., Benel. (1986). “Developmental Characteristics and Use of All-Terrain Vehicles” Essex Corporation, Contract CPSC-C-84–1091, Alexandria, VA.
Tversky, Amos and Daniel, Kahneman. (1982). “Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases.” In D., Kahneman, P., Slovic, and A., Tversky (eds.), Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Viscusi, W. Kip. (1985). “A Bayesian Perspective on Biases in Risk Perception,” Economic Letters 17, 59–62.
Viscusi, W. Kip. (1988). “Product Liability and Regulation: Establishing the Appropriate Institutional Division of Labor,” American Economic Review 78(2), 300–304.
Viscusi, W. Kip. (1989). “Toward a Diminished Role for Tort Liability: Social Insurance, Government Regulation, and Contemporary Risks to Health and Safety,” Yale Journal on Regulation 6(1), 65–107.
Viscusi, W. Kip and Wesley A., Magat. (1987). Learning about Risk. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This article is based on work done while Professor Rubinfeld was a consultant to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The authors wish to thank the CPSC for its support, Steven Shavell for his encouragement, and Paul Ruud for his econometric advice and assistance. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and not of the CPSC.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rubinfeld, D.L., Rodgers, G.B. Evaluating the injury risk associated with All-Terrain Vehicles: An application of Bayes' rule. J Risk Uncertainty 5, 145–158 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00057568
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00057568