TRAILS & TALES OUTDOORS JOURNAL for 05/06/11

“Riding the right size machine key to safe ATV use.”

This is the time of year that some who ride an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV), will decide on whether or not they want to upgrade to something newer or have children who are learning to ride and need a machine in order to join you on the trails.

What is perplexing to some is what to buy. Should it be a bigger, more powerful unit, or should it be scaled down for the youngsters to safely handle?

Nationwide, statistics show that children under the age of 16 account for 40% of ATV accidents and fatalities. A good many are attributed to young operators who are inexperienced and/or trying dangerous maneuvers and stunts. The rest are due to a lack of visual adult supervision and size and age of the operators.

While there is no specific state law that requires a certain size machine, there is a recommendation that came out of an agreement struck back in the late 1980’s between the manufacturers and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding the engine size.

If you go to an ATV dealer today, they will have quite a variety on display. Machines will range from the simple, single rider style to the work horse utility units. Some models also have been stretched to accommodate two riders, something not previously recommended. There are new sporting side-by-side machines that have sleek bodies and are able to travel quite a bit faster.

For those who are first timers, You may want to consider your needs before making a selection.

The side-by-side design is better for couples. If it has a roll bar cover and windshield, with individual seats with lap belts, no helmet or eye protection is required. Those that come with box beds are designed to carry cargo and not passengers.

The straight four-wheeler, be it a single or two-up design, can again be for multi-purpose use and the size you buy will be qualified by your needs.

If you have a youngster that will soon be riding, the size of the machine is critical, so much that dealers won’t recommend anything for youth to operate that is greater than 90cc in engine size. Again, this goes back to an agreement of understanding reached in the late 1980s when so many catastrophic accidents were occurring. The original ATVs, mostly of the three-wheeled design were also deemed unsafe for anyone under the age of 16 to operate by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Today young operators can begin to legally ride four-wheelers at age ten while on private land, and on public land at the age of 12, providing they have successfully completed a sanctioned safety course. In both cases and until they reach 16, all must be under the immediate supervision of an adult.

The law (MCL 324.81129) says that: The owner or person in charge of the ATV shall not knowingly permit the vehicle to be operated by a person who is incompetent to operate the vehicle because of mental or physical disability except as provided (in sec. 81131).

For some tips as to how you can “right size” your operator, be it yourself or a family member, the following recommendations are made especially for youths:

Leg Length - When standing on the footrests, the top inseam of the pants should be a minimum of three inches above the seat. While seated the thigh should be roughly parallel to the ground.

Foot Length - The operator should be able to reach the brake by rotating the foot on the footrest.

Arm Length - When seated on the machine, the operator’s arms should be long enough to: Turn the handlebars and maintain a firm grip; Operate the throttle comfortably when the handle is rotated fully during a turn; Operate the brake lever; The first joint of the index finger should extend beyond the brake lever when the operator grips the handlebar.

Strength and Weight - In addition to reaching the controls, the rider must have the strength to operate them properly. The rider should be able to squeeze a brake lever firmly during an emergency. The rider should have enough weight to keep from being thrown off the ATV in rough terrain.

Some of the things to consider when picking out a machine to be ridden by a youngster less than 16 years of age have to do with perceptual, maturity and motor factors. These children are at risk when operating an ATV because they:

Perceive distances to be greater than what they are.

Have a shorter attention span than adults.

React more slowly than adults.

Tend to believe that products purchased by their parents are safe.

Take more risks - particularly males - and perceive less danger in those risks than adults.

Get into trouble trying to imitate more complex maneuvers of parents or older friends.

While these guidelines are not absolute, they do provide an outline for you to consider when purchasing an ATV. It is still necessary to acquire the skills and knowledge of operation to tread lightly and enjoy another day in the great outdoors.

Safety courses are provided locally for free and are sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Delta County Sheriff Department.