ATV Safety Institute Summer Safety Alert
for All-Terrain Vehicles
Irvine, CA (6/30/06) - As the nation
begins to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday weekend,
the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute would like
to reinforce the importance of all-terrain vehicle safety.
Summer marks a time when children have more free time
to enjoy many activities, including riding ATVs. Parental
supervision is a key element to a child's safety and
children under the age of 16 must be supervised at all
times when operating an ATV. Parents literally hold
the key to their children's safety. Every ATV has an
ignition key, and when a parent or guardian controls
the key, they control the use.
There are approximately seven million ATVs in use in
the United States being operated by more than 15 million
Americans. It is essential that all riders understand
the importance of safe and responsible use of ATVs.
Almost 90 percent of youth ATV-related injury incidents
occur when a youth is operating an adult-sized ATV,
meaning that the engine size is greater than 90 cubic
centimeters. Every child under the age of 16 should
be supervised and should never be permitted to ride
an adult-sized ATV.
Consumer Product Safety Commission data show that over
90 percent of all ATV-related fatalities are the result
of warned-against behaviors. The ATV Safety Institute
has eight Golden Rules of ATV safety that address these
behaviors and apply to all riders:
1. Always wear a helmet and other protective gear.
2. Never ride on public roads -- another vehicle could
hit you.
3. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other
drugs.
4. Never carry a passenger on a single-rider vehicle.
5. Ride an ATV that's right for your age. The guidelines
are:
Age 6 and older Under 70cc
Age 12 and older 70cc to 90cc
Age 16 and older Over 90cc
6. Supervise riders younger than 16; ATVs are not
toys.
7. Ride only on designated trails, and at a safe speed.
8. Take an ATV RiderCourse; Call Toll-Free at 800-887-2887,
or go
to www.atvsafety.org.
To reach out with important safety information to
the vast number of current and potential all-terrain
vehicle riders, the ATV Safety Institute has posted
a web-friendly version of its 'Ride Safe, Ride Smart'
video on the www.atvsafety.org
home page for viewing or free download. A VHS copy is
also available for a nominal fee.
This eight-minute video demonstrates the importance
of getting a proper start in ATV riding, whether you
ride ATVs for recreation or for business. Two families
are profiled; both sets of parents lead by example,
emphasizing riding an ATV that's right for your age,
wearing proper protective gear, supervising young riders,
and respecting the environment. They also recommend
taking an ATV RiderCourse to get the most from your
ATV.
The ATV Safety Institute encourages families to watch
this fun, informative video together, so they may prepare
for a safe, fun summer. For more information about ATV,
safety or to enroll in the ATV RiderCourse(SM) nearest
you, visit www.atvsafety.org
or call 800-887-2887.
About ATV Safety Institute
The All-Terrain
Vehicle Safety Institute(R), a not-for-profit division
of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America(R), was
formed in 1988 to implement an expanded national program
of all-terrain vehicle safety education and awareness.
The ATV Safety Institute's primary goal is to promote
the safe and responsible use of ATVs, thereby reducing
accidents and injuries that may result from improper
ATV operation by the rider. For safety information or
to enroll in the ATV RiderCourse(SM) nearest you, visit
www.atvsafety.org and click on "Online Enrollment,"
or call 800-887-2887.
ATV
Safety Institute
800.887.2887
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