title: The three wheeler (adult tricycle): an unstable, dangerous machine.
abstract: Three-wheel motor vehicular accidents are a common occurrence, yet we found little publicity or published research dedicated to exposing the dangers of this popular recreational vehicle, and manufacturers have released few warnings. In a 3-year period, 125 patients were seen in the emergency department in one east Alabama referral area, a far higher rate of accidents than caused by other similar types of vehicles. The most common mechanism of these accidents was rollover of the machine; fractures were the most frequent injury suffered. The very young are common victims. Accident prevention must begin with education of both parents and children about the potential dangers of three-wheelers--they are, indeed, dangerous, unstable machines.
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000056:Accident Prevention; D000059:Accidents; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000407:Alabama; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011998:Recreation; D012306:Risk; D012399:Rotation