Senators demand delay in recreational vehicle safety rules

A bipartisan group of senators urged the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) not to issue a safety standard for recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs).

The 12 senators sent a letter over the weekend to CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye asking him to delay issuing mandatory safety standards for recreational vehicles, and instead work with the recreational vehicle industry to develop voluntary standards.

{mosads}“We encourage the CPSC to take any additional time necessary,” the letter stated. “During this time we recommend that the CPSC staff and the industry reach an agreement on voluntary standards that adequately address the risk of injury concerning ROVs.”

They said they oppose a “one-size-fits-all mandatory rule” from the federal government, and that manufacturers could improve designs to reduce injuries when ROVs flip without federal mandates.

Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) signed the letter.