Since their introduction to the public several decades ago, ATVs have become
increasingly popular. They are very appealing to riders because of the amount
of excitement one feels as they are riding. People are now discovering that the
whole family can enjoy the excitement of the ATV. On the negative side, though,
people are often injured while ATVing, and because of this, it is vitally
important that adults do everything they can to ensure the safety of both
themselves and their children.
To drive an ATVsafely, one needs to be strong, skilled, and, most important,
mature. This is why children who are younger than 16 years of age should never
operate an ATV. Adults must not forget that it also takes strength and stamina
to be a passenger. A rider who is sitting behind the driver must be able to
hold on tight for a long period. Often, they must hold on while the ATV goes
over very bumpy ground at a high speed. The rule of thumb is that any child who
is younger than six years old should never be allowed to ride as a passenger on
an ATV.
It is probably not surprising to discover that head injuries are one of the
causes of both death and serious injury on ATVs. These serious injuries usually
occur when ATVers crash, fall, or overturn while moving. It should be
remembered that children can also be injured if they are towed by an ATV during
winter months while they are on a sled, tube, tire, or other device that is
being pulled by an ATV. In Canada ,
statistics show that four children younger than 16 years of age die in
recreational vehicle related accidents each year.
So, the question becomes: how can ATVs be used safely so that they are
enjoyed by each and every member of the family who is old enough to do so? If
your family happens to own an ATV, be sure that no one under the age of 16 is
ever allowed to drive it. Again, it is tremendously important that you never
allow any children younger than six years of age to ride as passengers. If you
are a parent who owns and operates an ATV, consider following these rules to be
an excellent opportunity to model the type of safe behavior you want your
children to display.
Before you head out on your ATV adventure, be sure to be careful when
fueling the ATV. Burns are possible, and you want to avoid them. Be sure to use
the proper lifting methods when loading ATVs on and off trailers. This will
help you prevent strains and crush injuries. Make sure that you check the
weather forecast before you go out. It is probably not a good idea to venture
out if a major storm is brewing. Also, make sure that you check the condition
of the trails. Depending on how mountainous the area in which you will be ATVing
is, you may want to assess whether there is danger of an accident. In the
winter, always be sure to avoid ATVing on ice if you are not 100% certain that
the ice is very thick.
You should also be able to identify the signs of hypothermia if you are ATVing in the wintertime,
and know what to do if it does occur. Make sure that you always travel with the
right equipment. You will want to have well-insulated protective clothing, such
as goggles, waterproof suits and gloves, and rubber-bottomed boots. Of course,
you need to make sure that everyone who will be riding is wearing a helmet
approved for ATVing. Another thing you can do to ensure the safety of you and
your family is to attach brightly colored antenna flags to your ATV. You will
definitely want to do this if you are driving in a particularly hilly area.
Of course, the most important thing you can do to ensure your family's
safety is to drive carefully. Use wisdom and caution. If you have followed the
preceding guidelines, you will find that ATVing is a very exciting sport that
can be enjoyed by members of your entire family.
