Fatal ATV accidents prompt safety reminders from officials

It’s the season — thousands of happy campers are heading to the hills for a weekend escape of campfires and “quadding.”

Read Eight great desert spots to camp and quad

Most desert campers will tell you that all-terrain vehicles — ATVs — are typically the transportation of choice for residents who seek the broad desert landscape for fun on the run.

But, when reports of fatal incidents and freak accidents surface in the news, officials remind anyone with the need for speed to slow down and brush up on a few ATV safety guidelines.

“People should be concerned. Any time you’re riding (an open) vehicle that goes beyond the normal rate of human speed, there are concerns,” said Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Carl Purvis.

According to Purvis, accidents happen frequently enough throughout the United States that he monitors daily reports, then issues warnings to media outlets.

From 1982 to 2010, there have been 588 total reported deaths in California. From 1982 to 2006, 101 deaths attributed to all-terrain vehicle accidents were children under the age of 16, according to ATVSafety.gov.

“The number one thing is, if you’re going to ride, please get training. You have to know how to maneuver the vehicle correctly,” Purvis said, adding that many ATV manufacturers and dealerships offer training.

Helmets, goggles, gloves and long pants are a must and riders should always avoid carrying a passenger, especially if the vehicle is designed for just a single person, Purvis said.

“Also, don’t ride on paved roads. The design of the all-terrain vehicle is for off-roading only,” Purvis said, noting that because ATVs are engineered with a solid axle, wheels can skid when going around curves.

Purvis also urges parents to give careful consideration to a child’s maturity and skills for ensuring safety.

“Putting a child on an adult ATV is asking for trouble. Children don’t have the skills or the proper weight to handl an ATV,” he said.

For California’s ATV laws click here.

Children under the age of six should not ride, even as a passenger.

Purvis said that safety is important not just to Consumer Product Safety Commission officials, but to industry insiders as well.

“We work together with the industry for safety,” he said.

To learn more, visit ATVSafety.gov.

--

Source: http://bit.ly/xn6rds

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites