ATV Safety

All Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, are popular machines used for work and play. Originally built in Japan for use in isolated, mountainous regions, ATVs are widely used today for everyday chores on farms and ranches. ATVs are also purchased for recreation. People enjoy the thrill of riding up and down hills and jumping over ditches.

Operated properly, an ATV can be a lot of fun and very useful.  Operated carelessly, an ATV can make the rider "All Too Vulnerable" to injury, or even death.

In 2002, ATV crashes resulted in 357 fatalities and 113,900 injured riders. The number of fatalities was up by 67 percent from 1997. The number of injured riders more than doubled in the same time period.

What's especially troubling about those statistics is that most ATV-related injuries are preventable. The most common causes are unsafe speed, drinking and driving, driving on paved roads and into regular traffic, driving in unsafe weather conditions, and driving without proper supervision or training.

The responsibility for careful operation rests almost entirely with the ATV rider. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not required to regulate ATVs. Many states do not require an age limit, license, or training to operate an ATV.

Manufacturers, outdoors organizations, and safety agencies do their best to inform ATV users of safe operating procedures, such as:

• Read the owner's manual carefully and follow the operating procedures described. Pay special attention to the warnings in the manual and all labels on the machine.
• Do not operate an ATV without proper instruction. Take a training course. An ATV is not a toy.
• Do not let children ride an adult-size ATV. Children (and some adults) lack the strength and skill to correct an unstable ATV weighing 500 to 1,000 pounds and capable of traveling 55 mph or more.
• Children under 12 should not operate an ATV. Children age 12-16 should ride ATVs with an engine size of 90cc or less.
• Always wear an approved motorcycle helmet. Also wear eye-protection, boots with ankle support, gloves, long pants, and a long sleeved shirt or jacket as conditions warrant.
• Never carry a passenger, which can upset the balance of the ATV and cause you to lose control.
• Never operate an ATV on pavement. They are not designed for use on paved surfaces and may be difficult to control.
• Do not operate an ATV on any public road, even dirt or gravel roads. Collision with cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles can be deadly.
• Do not ride at excessive speeds. With their short wheelbase and maneuverability, ATVs are very unstable and easily flip on uneven ground. Go at a speed that is proper for the terrain, visibility conditions, and your experience.
• Be especially cautious when approaching hills, turns, and obstacles and when operating on unfamiliar or rough terrain. Keep at least 10 feet between your ATV and another vehicles.
• Do not consume alcohol or drugs before or while operating an ATV.