1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
Accidents are the leading cause of death in children and adolescents in the United States, and more than one half of these are related to motor vehicles.1 More specifically increased morbidity and mortality in the adolescent population is related to motorcycle accidents. Recent studies document a greater death risk from motorcycle mishaps than from automobile accidents and indicate that the youthful population at risk is growing rapidly. In Alabama, a 14-year-old may be licensed to operate a motorcycle on public roads by passing an eye test and a written examination. A child of any age may use a cycle on off-road trails.