Home ATV user? Ride safely this winter—and all the time
News

ATV user? Ride safely this winter—and all the time

Contributors

atvToday’s ATV have come a long way from the original three-wheel models and are a lot safer to ride. But dealers and users remind new owners that safety is still every user’s responsibility.

“What we’re seeing for the most part is that accidents are really going down. People are becoming very safety-conscious,” said Ron Gibbs, Honda House sales manager. “Be sure that you have dressed safely” for an off-road experience, he added. “Especially for new owners, it’s a brand new unit, and these folks are not really used to it.”

Cathy Cobb, a chesterfield county ATV owner, said safety is her top concern when riding. “We always wear a helmet,” Cobb said. “When we do things that we need to wear gloves, we’ll wear work gloves—and safety glasses if you’re going to ride through the woods.”

A 2014 study of ATV accident records by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that more than half of all accidents occur when alcohol is involved or the vehicles are driven on paved roads. And more than half of all fatalities occurred when the rider was not wearing a helmet.

“The most important piece of gear you’re going to have is your helmet,” Gibbs said. “I think that’s extremely important, because that’s your head. It’s the only one you have, so you want to protect it. The goggles obviously go with the helmet, then gloves and then maybe some high-topped shoes or boots, whatever the case may be.” Long sleeves and long pants can also help protect a rider, he said.

ATVs are popular on farms and in rural areas because they’re both useful tools and fun to ride. Several larger models allow for passengers or more cargo, but they still are designed solely for off-road use. The tire tread on ATV wheels is too aggressive for bare pavement and easily can cause steering or traction problems, Gibbs said.

“I’ve got a 10-acre farm, and I’ve got horses and it’s so much easier to put a bale of hay on the back of that ATV and run it down to the pasture,” he said. “So that’s huge. ATVs now lend themselves to agricultural uses where you can put on sprayers or plows. There are so many pieces of equipment that are available for ATVs that make farm work a lot easier.”

Safe riding instructions and even courses are available at most ATV dealerships, and Gibbs said they’re well worth the time.

“There is a list of rules on the ATV itself, and also in the owner’s manual. If you adhere to those rules and regulations, the possibility of becoming injured is extremely small.”

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

How To Bet On Preakness Stakes 2025 In Michigan
Sports

How To Bet On Preakness Stakes 2025 In Connecticut

How To Bet On Preakness Stakes 2025 In Ontario
Sports

How To Bet On Preakness Stakes 2025 In Tennessee

The excitement is building as the 150th running of the legendary Preakness Stakes gallops into Baltimore’s historic Pimlico Race Course this Saturday. It’s one of the crown jewels of the Triple Crown, and you won’t want to miss a second of the action. If you’re in Tennessee and 18 or older, the best part is—you...

tony elliott
Football

UVA Football: Tony Elliott has a team, and no more excuses for not winning

Tony Elliott won a grand total of 11 games in his first three years as the UVA Football coach, but you could cut him some slack.

jail handcuffs
Local

Sheriff’s Office: Augusta County man in jail after firing gun at girlfriend

Sports

How To Bet On Preakness Stakes 2025 In Pennsylvania

shower water
Health, Local

Harrisonburg declares local emergency as water capacity remains an issue

tornado storm
Virginia

Severe weather potential, including tornadoes, possible in Virginia tonight