With the holiday shopping season nearing full swing, parents who are looking for an ideal gift for their older children may find the $250 price tag of some new models of ATV’s very tempting. But a closer inspection of the Fushin all-terrain vehicle revealed that the bike was missing a little something – like the front brakes.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is finding it increasingly difficult to ensure the safety of the Chinese imports coming into the States that do not meet safety regulations. Concerns are increased because of the accessibility of these ATV’s and other products via the internet. In addition to the lack of front brakes on the kids’ bikes, the handlebars were found to be in violation of safety standards because of their sharpness, which can also cause injury. ATV’s already are found to kill more than 900 hundred people a year and with the addition of the Chinese imports, that number could easily rise.

It seems the Fushin product itself was recalled voluntarily from the market; however, other models from China are still being shipped to the US and the safety standards still are not being met. This is a particular concern to officials because even though the Fushin is no longer available, some of the all-terrain vehicles are still being marketed to children as young as 6.

ATV’s are also of particular concern in general because they are not as strictly regulated as the rest of the motor vehicle industry. Drivers require no license and there is tons of incidence involving daredevil stunts shown on popular internet channels. ATV’s coming from outside the United States can add other safety concerns when the US standards in production are not being met. Chinese designs especially are dangerous because they are marketed toward younger age groups and because parents find their lower price tags, which is often half of the major competitor’s prices, very appealing. Many versions of the ATV’s also contain lead parts which can be hazardous to the health of everyone, but especially little kids.

As the economy has made this holiday gift-giving season even harder than in year’s past, parents are urged to research any ATV models they are considering not only for the concerns mentioned here but for the overall safety of their child riders. While many American-made models may be affordable, an ATV in general may not be the wisest choice for a gift to the younger demographic.