All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Information Available
1 February 1999
All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Information Available IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 29 -- The unusual weather patterns have
provided some spring-like conditions during these normal winter months. As a
reminder to media the ATV Safety Institute (ASI), a non-profit organization
formed to promote the safe and responsible use of ATVs, offers all-terrain
vehicle information to the media such as:
* ATV Safety Fact Sheet
* Tips and Practice Guide
* Parents, Youngsters and ATVs Informational Guide
* What to Wear When Operating an ATV (The Well-Dressed ATV Rider)
* ATVs to the Rescue (ATVs Help Public Service Workers Respond)
* Home on the Range ( ATVs are Good Tools)
* Information on RiderCourses
ATVs are today's workhorse and are used primarily for utility purposes to
conduct "on-duty" and "off-duty" jobs. Typically these functions include work
applications such as farming and ranching, plowing snow, maintaining fields,
or carrying equipment to a campsite.
For more information on all-terrain vehicles, call the ASI at
(949) 727-3727, extension 3091.
All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Information
* Research indicates that a major factor in ATV associated injuries is
rider misuse and inappropriate rider behavior:
-- Riding while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
-- Riding too fast for conditions
-- Riding on paved surfaces
-- Riding without a helmet
-- Riding with passengers
-- Other risky conduct in violation of the manufacturers' warnings
* Different models are available for specific age groups:
Rider Age and Engine Size
ATV Size Minimum Age
Over 90cc 16 years and older
70cc-90cc 12 years and older
Under 70cc 6 years and older
* Parents or guardians should not permit youngsters to ride an ATV that
is not recommended for their age group.
* While a youth may be of the recommended age to ride a particular size
of ATV, not all youngsters have the strength, skills or judgment
necessary to operate an ATV.
* Parental supervision, matching a youth to the proper sized ATV and
appropriate riding gear are key to a youngster's safety.
* Parents should supervise their youngster's operation of the ATV at all
times and should permit continued use only if they determine that their
youngster has the ability and judgment to safely operate the ATV.
* Special rider training for a youth is available through ATV
RiderCourses offered by ASI:
-- This course is available to youths from 6 years of age to 15, and
is only conducted on ATVs of the appropriate size recommended for
the rider's age.
-- Students between the ages of 12 and 15 are offered training with a
class limited to 6 students -- it is recommended that parents or
guardians be present.
-- Students between the ages of 6 to 11 are offered teaching
provisions with a class limited to 4 students -- parents or
guardians must be present.
-- ASI licensed instructors evaluate the performance of all students
during each lesson and provide an evaluation form to the student
during the last session.
* The ATV RiderCourse is offered at 1,000 locations nationwide; for
further information about these classes or to enroll, contact the ATV
Safety Institute (ASI) at 1-800-887-2887.
* ATVs are not toys -- but like any piece of equipment -- when used
properly ATVs are safe.
* Before operating any ATV, new buyers and current owners need to be sure
both the rider and ATV are ready:
-- Fully read and understand the owner's manual and warning labels
-- Wear proper riding gear
-- Follow age and ATV size recommendations
-- If the ATV rider is a youth, parental supervision, matching a youth
to the proper sized ATV and equipment are key to a youngster's
safety
* The proper riding gear includes:
-- Approved helmet
-- Gloves
-- Long-sleeved shirt/jacket
-- Over-the-ankle boots
-- Goggles/face shield
-- Long pants
* ATVs are primarily used for utility purposes and within those utility
applications are two distinctions
-- on-duty utility
-- off-duty utility
* On-duty utility uses are "commercial" work applications such as:
-- Farming
-- Ranching
-- Construction
-- Oil production
-- Land management
-- Field maintenance
-- Facilities management at sporting events
* Additional utility uses include off-duty activities such as:
-- Transporting gear to a favorite fishing spot, campsite or hunting
ground
* It is estimated that approximately 90% of all ATVs are used for on-duty
and off-duty utility purposes(a)
(a) MIC Ownership and Usage Survey, 1990
* Statistics indicate that ATV use for farming and ranching tasks
accounts for 52 percent of on-duty utility applications(a)
(a) MIC Ownership and Usage Survey
Note: Households owning (personal ownership) ATVs; does not
include business/industrial
* Free hands-on training is available to all individuals who have
purchased new ATVs on or after December 31, 1986, including the
purchaser's eligible family members
* Training also is available for a modest fee of about $35 to all
interested parties who are not eligible for free training
* ASI's rider safety programs and other industry efforts have helped to
reduce injuries by 42% in the past 9 years
