Ten-year-olds in North Dakota would be allowed to ride off-road ATVs and dirtbikes under a bill being considered by the state Legislature.

Under current law, children have to be 12 years old to legally ride on public lands.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, R-Mandan, said a change in the state's law would be in line with manufacturer recommendations and would allow younger children to participate in popular youth motorcross races.

"These are events that are held and we want to make sure that young people are participating," she said Friday at a hearing of the House Transportation Committee.

Kelsch also said earlier entry into the sport would allow the kids to get more practice, thus ensuring that they become better, safer riders.

"We want to encourage the young people to take the training," Kelsch said.

The bill requires parental supervision for younger kids who ride.

Arik Spencer, recreation division manager for the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, conducts training for those wishing to be certified to drive off-road vehicles.

"A lot of times kids come to us with bad habits already in place; if we get them earlier, when they begin riding, we can teach them better from the beginning," he said.

Spencer said that many kids below 12 come in for training, but they can't be given certificates of passage to operate the vehicle until that age.

The proposal elicited concern from child safety advocates.

Tonya Wisnewski, program coordinator for SafeKids North Dakota, questioned whether 10-year-olds had the physical and cognitive abilities to safely operate the vehicles.

"ATV's are very dangerous to kids no matter what precautions you take," she said.

Since 2000, five children have been killed in ATV accidents, according to the North Dakota Department of Health.

Dr. Todd Twogood, a pediatrician at Medcenter One's Q&R Clinic, said age 11 is a milestone in children's cognitive control of physical actions, and that any age limit for operating off-road vehicles should be set above that year.

He also said that it's incorrect to assume that every parent or potential supervisor will be versed enough in ATV safety to protect the kids.

"That's not the case for a majority of parents," he said.

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 223-8482 or jonathan.rivoli@;bismarcktribune)