7 Safety Tips and Procedures for Kids When Driving an ATV

ATVs are motorized vehicles that are meant to be used off-road adventures.

There are no federal regulations. Each state has different laws on how old a person must be to ride an ATV.

In some states, children as young as 10 years old can ride an ATV as long as they are supervised by an adult who has a valid driver’s license.

Yet, bear in mind that ATVs weigh over 600 pounds and have powerful engines. They have a high center of gravity and no roll bars, safety cages, or seatbelts, meaning they can tip easily, throw riders off, or even roll over on top of riders. They are certainly not toys!

In fact, research by Sick Kids found that in a 12-month period, there were over 181 cases of serious or fatal ATV crashes involving children under the age of 19.

If your child does ride an ATV, make sure always to follow these ATV safety tips so that your kids stay safe while having fun.

1. Have a Serious Talk with your Child

Before you allow a child of any age to use an ATV, set down some ATV safety rules. Make sure you communicate that even though ATVs are a lot of fun to ride, they are also dangerous.

Children must understand the risks of using an ATV. Some of the ATV rules you will set will be items discussed in this article.

Most importantly, they should understand their responsibilities toward ATV safety.

If you feel your child comprehends and accepts these rules, you may then proceed.

2. Take a Safety Course

When it comes to safety the more knowledge is the better. Spend the 20 minutes and take the ATV Safety course with them for their safety and knowledge.

3. Bring the Right Gear

Whenever anyone mounts an ATV, they should wear an approved helmet. This rule applies to adults and children alike.

It is wise to wear personal protective equipment such as long-sleeved clothing, sturdy footwear (never open-toed) and goggles. Gloves are also a good idea.

Children should always have a mobile phone or another device to communicate with others. Make sure people know where you are planning to go.

You also want to plan your ride ahead of time. A drone might help here.

4. Choose the Right Size

Youth under 16 years old should never use an adult-sized ATV. These adult-sized machines are too powerful and strong for children to handle safely.

Instead, opt for an age-appropriate ATV model that also has a speed limiter installed.

Check the ATV label before your kid hops on to check the recommended age for that ATV.

5. Always do an ATV Safety Check Before You Get Started

Before you ride an ATV, you should always perform a pre-ride inspection. Even if you rode the same ATV the day before.

Here are the ATV safety check steps:

1. Walk around the ATV, looking for debris, leaks or anything that may impair the vehicle’s operation.
2. Inspect the tires for any damage and look to make sure the tread depth is adequate.
3. Check the tire pressures against the manufacturer’s recommendation. It should be 5-15 psi for all tires.
4. Inspect the brakes and suspension for leaks, debris, and damage and that the drive chain has enough slack and is correctly installed.
5. Take off the seat and inspect the intake system for blockage or debris.
6. Make sure your safety flag is installed properly.
7. While your ATV is on a level surface, check the engine oil level.
8. Check the fuel level and add fuel if necessary.
9. Inspect and set the speed limiter.
10. Test the steering by turning the wheel full left to full right.
11. Test the throttle and brake levers. Pay attention to any sticking.
12. Check the choke lever for smoothness.
13. Start the engine.
14. Make sure that the headlight, taillight and brake lights are all functioning.
15. Press down on the horn. Make sure it is loud.
16. Use the start/stop switch to turn off the engine and make sure it doesn’t restart.
17. Pull the safety tether out while the engine is on. This should cause the engine to turn off. Make sure the engine does not restart without the safety tether attached.

If any of these steps aren’t adequate, it’s time to bring your ATV in for service.

Once you have completed these safety pre-ride steps, you are ready to get going.

6. Choose the Right Time to Ride

One of the most important ATV safety tips is to be prudent about when and where to ride.

Only ride during daylight hours. Avoid riding an ATV after rain or snow, which can make the roads harder to navigate.

Be sure to stick to safe speeds and only ride your ATV on designated ATV trails.

7. No Passengers

No one under the age of 18 should ever drive an ATV with a passenger. Make sure your children understand and accept this rule unconditionally.

Also, children and teens should not use quad bikes.

8. Take an ATV Safety Course for Kids

The final ATV safety tip for children is to enroll them in an ATV safety course for kids.

These courses take place regularly all across the country. These fun and informative courses are a great way to help your child develop the skills and coordination to successfully drive an ATV.

Stay Safe By Following ATV Safety Tips

Thanks for reading these ATV safety tips. Remember, even after your kids become skilled off-road riders, they still need adult supervision on every ride.

If you can’t be there to supervise, make sure another responsible adult is there.

Want to rent an ATV? At Westshore Marine & Leisure, we have ATV Rentals to have you covered.