Everyday across the US, any number of the fifteen million outdoor enthusiasts who own all-terrain vehicles (ATV) jump on their four-wheelin’ horses and head down one of thousands of developed trails that lead across desert terrain, woodlands, high-country, urban woodscapes, and river runs. Most riders return with stories and memories of vistas and an exhilerating scoot across the terra firma. But each year, 150,000 of these same riders head down a path that lands them in the emergency room, and over 900 find their way to the graveyard. Over twenty-per cent of these fatal rides happen to riders under sixteen.
The original three -wheel ATV proved to be a human disaster just like the Chevrolet Corvair that was unsafe for humans at any speed. Adding a fourth wheel took the much maligned ATV off of life-support. Now deemed safe enough for normal humans, the market took off. But like the recent 2007 report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission documents, even though a fourth wheel made a big difference in reducing injuries and death for ATV riders there are still thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths that occur every year.
If you ride, there are a few things that DNRguide wants you to know about that can keep you on the path that brings you safely home to ride again & again. Safety experts, ATV clubs, manufacturers, and dealers agree that paying attention to these few items make all the difference for keeping fun fun on your ATV.
- Take an ATV course. All kids must comply with this, but the 90% male-riding ATV public will learn something. This is information you aren’t born with - but can live by.
- Wear the right gear. Helmet, googles, gloves, long-sleeves and pants, and real shoes. Nothing macho about taking a stick in the eye, or doing head plants without helmets.
- Never allow a passenger on a single-rider ATV. The simplest explanation here would be to post a picture of one of the many children who have died from parents violating this edict with their child. Big people get hurt as passengers too because the weight distribution shifts to the back of the ATV, and flips happen. If you like riding two-up, buy a two-up, and we will all give you a thumbs up.
- Follow the marked trails at safe speeds. If understanding what safe speed is all about is a challenge for you, maybe you need another sport. Getting launched off an ATV seat as a human missile takes the brag out of braggers.
- Stay off public roads except to cross them. Here’s the deal. Cars own the road. ATVs own the trails. They stay off our trails. We stay off their roads.
- Booze and drugs don’t belong on an ATV. If you are horrified at the thought of killing someone with a knife, what happens in your brain that you are willing to drug and drink while flying through the woods on a ATV and risk killing other people there? Hundreds have died from this. And some have gone to jail.
- Children under 16 who drive ATVs must be supervised. ATVs are not a babysitter. When you buy ATVs for your family, make this a condition in your home BEFORE you buy them. No follow rules - no ATV. Period. Twenty per cent of ATV injuries and death happen to children largely because this rule is not respected. Is the loss of your children worth gambling with this rule?
- Ride with a Ten Per Cent Margin. You keep your money in safe places. Why not your life? Maximize every risk, and eventually you lose. Nobody wins every time when you run the edge in any game. Give yourself at least a ten per cent margin in speed, running curves and corners, traversing, and tackling hills. Such safety is not an exact science, but if it keeps you from maxxing out limits - you will find your way home every time & in one piece. That’s the best fun.
Go to the ATV Safety Institute site for information on a safety course.
Happy trails … and find the fun and safe path home. Your DNRguide.