3 Things to Know Before Riding an ATV

All-terrain vehicles are used for off-road activities such as riding on trails and farm work. In most states, teenagers are allowed to ride ATVs even without having their driver's license. However, health and safety experts discourage teens under 16 years from riding an ATV. Riding an ATV requires the driver to make fast adjustments like slowing down, speeding up, and using their weight to turn the ATV. An individual under 16 does not possess the decision-making experience and physical strength necessary to operate an ATV safely.

1. Observe Safety

The first and most important thing to do to ensure your safety is to get trained. Training on how to ride an ATV takes a short time, especially if you are already a certified driver. Before you head out to the mountains, practice your skills on level ground, such as an open field or a parking lot, and then move on to easy trails.

•           Wear protective clothing

The most common accidents involving ATVs result in head injuries; wearing a helmet can reduce the injury's severity. The best helmet to use is the one used for motorized sports or motorcycles. It would be best if you also covered your extremities for protection against bruises and cuts. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, goggles, and over-the-ankle boots. All these items can be found in an ATV dealership; check out how to start an ATV dealership if you wish to sell the vehicles and protective clothing.

•           Choose an ATV that suits your age and size

A full-size ATV weighs over 600 pounds, which makes it challenging to handle. Check the manufacturer's warning label for information about the right age group to ride the vehicle. A new rider should go for a vehicle with an automatic transmission and a 200cc-400cc engine.

•           Know your state's ATV rules

The Consumer Product Safety Commission provides information on state requirements for ATV riding. The rules also apply to passengers as one can only ride as a passenger if the ATV is made to carry more than one person.

Always ride your ATV at a safe speed on trails suitable for ATV use. When at high speed, ATVs are likely to tip as they become less stable. ATV tires are not meant for high speeds or riding on pavements. When you ride on a pavement at high speed, you will endanger your life as the ATV will be challenging to turn.

2. Choose the Right Passenger

When choosing friends, we tend to pick those with the same ambitions, desires, and interests as ours. The same applies when selecting a passenger for an ATV. The passenger supports the adventure when negotiating curves, moves the driver out of the seat, and slows down the vehicle when in uneven terrain.

The driver may decide to switch places with the passenger, so it is a good idea that your passenger also has experience riding an ATV. Riding an ATV with your best friend is also an opportunity to know them under different circumstances; it enables you to see their stress endurance levels, how much they panic, and if they can take control of challenging situations.

3. The View is Most Beautiful at the Top

Apart from the adrenaline rush that comes with riding an ATV, riders also enjoy beautiful landscapes. But this is not always the case as you sometimes have to drive on challenging terrain through mud, grass, holes, dust, rock, which is physically demanding. Riding an ATV involves firmly gripping the steering wheel handle, where the stiffness and the bumping can cause sore muscles the next day.

However, you should not be discouraged by all the challenges as it is preparing what is available at the top. The view at the top is always breathtaking as you get to view everything below. Also you should try out a rental from FriendWithA. Besides, it is always an adventure when descending at high speeds as you have to be extra alert when navigating the terrain at high speed.

Final Thoughts

Just like when driving other cars, you should not ride an ATV while under the influence, as it can impair your judgment and reaction time. A third of ATV-related hospital ER injuries and deaths involve children. Therefore, a child should never ride an adult ATV as it increases their risk of injuries from accidents involving the vehicle.