Born To Ride News

To All Riders Celebrating a Day with No Commute, the ATV Safety Institute Offers Tips for Safe Riding

IRVINE, Calif., September 1, 2010 — This Labor Day weekend, Americans in every state will celebrate one less day of driving to work with one more day of riding their ATVs among family and friends in the great outdoors. The All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute and the nation’s major ATV manufacturers and distributors want to remind the 35 million riders currently operating over 10 million ATVs across the U.S. about the safe and responsible use of ATVs this weekend and every weekend.

“To many enthusiasts, Labor Day weekend is the peak of the riding season,” said Tom Yager, vice president of the ATV Safety Institute. “Millions of riders throughout the country will enjoy their holiday weekend behind the handlebars of an ATV and we ask each and every rider to put safety first and ride responsibly. ASI provides many easy ways for riders to learn about ATV safety, from online safety tips and practice guides to a full online E-Course or the ability to enroll in the hands-on ATV RiderCourse^SM, all available 24/7 at atvsafety.org.”

Consumer Product Safety Commission data show that 92 percent of all ATV-related fatalities are the result of warned-against behaviors such as speeding, not wearing proper gear and riding under the influence. ASI urges everyone to follow the 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.

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^SM; call toll-free at (800) 887-2887 or go to http://www.atvsafety.org/ to register. Or take the online e-course at http://www.atvsafety.org/.

Young riders are especially vulnerable to certain types of crashes when not following proper safety rules. Nearly 90 percent of youth ATV-related injuries occur when a youth is operating an adult-sized ATV. Parents should supervise children under the age of 16 at all times and make sure children only operate an appropriately sized ATV. Parents literally hold the key to their child’s safety by controlling the ignition key.

The ATV Safety Institute encourages families to talk about household rules for ATV riding, even if riding with friends, so that everyone can enjoy a safe, fun Labor Day weekend.  

The All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute^® develops rider training programs and promotes the safe and responsible use of ATVs. The ASI works to reduce crashes and injuries resulting from improper ATV use. Formed in 1988, the ASI is a not-for-profit division of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America^®. For safety information or to enroll in the ATV RiderCourse^SM nearest you, visit http://www.atvsafety.org/ or call (800) 887-2887.

The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America^® promotes the safe and responsible use of all-terrain vehicles through rider training, public awareness campaigns and state legislation. Additionally, the SVIA works to preserve access to off-road lands and expand riding opportunities. The SVIA is a resource for ATV research, statistics and vehicle standards. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the SVIA develops standards for the equipment, configuration and performance requirements of ATVs.

Based in Irvine, Calif., the SVIA is a not-for-profit industry association sponsored by Arctic Cat, BRP, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, Polaris, Suzuki, Tomberlin and Yamaha. Visit the SVIA online at http://www.svia.org/. For safety information or to enroll in the ATV RiderCourse^SM nearest you, visit http://www.atvsafety.org/ or call (800) 887-2887.