Boat Detailing: Your Questions Answered!

School’s out for the summer and teens are ready to take full advantage of the free time. Aside from swimming, biking, and indoor, air-conditioned activities, a popular pastime is riding an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), or 4-wheeler. While the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends no one under the age of 16 operate a 4-wheeler, you’ll definitely see a handful of young ATV drivers riding in the summertime. So we compiled a list of safety tips for the young 4-wheeler driver in your home to help prevent dangerous and even deadly accidents on the trail.

First, prior to loading up and heading out, it’s very important to visually and manually inspect the ATV.

Proper inspection can identify a problem between your routine maintenance and also could prevent a breakdown or accident while riding. Have an adult, or properly trained teenager (preferably 16 and up), ensure the tires are inflated to the correct PSI. Tires that are under- or over-inflated can impact the ride and handling of your 4-wheeler on the trail, as well as create uneven wear on the tires.

Also, ensure the brakes are in working order; the last thing a rider would need is to be careening down a trail, out-of-control and unable to stop. Lastly, inspect the handlebars and steering for a proper turn radius and maneuverability. Of course, making certain the fuel is topped off keeps you from ending up stranded somewhere on a trail, away from a fuel can.

Safety gear is just as important as a proper 4-wheeler inspection.

Trails are often uneven, dusty, rocky, and surrounded by trees with large limbs. This creates a perfect environment for injuries. Long sleeves and pants help protect the arms and legs from cuts and scrapes due to debris and limbs, while also protecting the skin in the event of a rollover.

Wearing a helmet and goggles are also highly recommended in order to protect the head from brain injuries, and eyes from overhanging branches. Finally, over-the-ankle boots and full-finger gloves help protect the hands while they are exposed during a ride and the feet and ankles from kicked up rocks, as well as added protection in case of an ATV accident.

Riding a 4-wheeler alone is greatly discouraged—it can be deadly—as is carrying additional passengers on an ATV designed for one person.

The old adage “the more the merrier” does not necessarily apply when riding a 4-wheeler. Too many people on the ATV and it becomes more prone to flipping and rolling over. If the design of the 4-wheeler is only for one rider, ensure other people have their own ATV or someone has the ability to take a passenger.

It’s important that at least one rider in the group has a cell phone in the event of an emergency.

Trails and wooded areas are often away from main roads and homes; making it difficult to find help in an emergency situation. Of course, ATVs are not designed to be ridden on roadways where they may encounter high-speed vehicles.

Finally, similar to learning to drive a motor vehicle, there are ATV safety courses available to help the young 4-wheeler driver learn proper maneuverability and laws regarding driving an ATV.

Enrolling in an ATV safety course is one of the best things you can do for the young 4-wheeler rider in your home. Before you send your teen out on the trails with friends, ensure all riders are aware of the dangers and safety precautions while operating a 4-wheeler. A fully educated and prepared young driver is the best kind of ATV operator.Riding a 4-wheeler alone is greatly discouraged—it can be deadly—as is carrying additional passengers on an ATV designed for one person.