Kids’ off-road vehicle safety: A guide for parents

Not according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and other experts. They argue that children younger than 16 lack the strength, coordination, and decision-making skills to safely drive these off-road machines. Youth model ATVs can help children achieve the full range of motion needed for steering, braking, and accelerating, but deficits in self-control, discipline, and focus still make injuries likely.

Most states have laws governing the use of ORVs, but it’s important to confirm the regulations where you’re going to ride. More than 25 states have minimum age requirements, and some mandate helmets and safety training for minors.

Keep in mind, many of these regulations apply only on public lands. Different regulations may apply if you’re riding on private property, including farms.

If you choose to let your child operate an ORV, make sure you both have a thorough understanding of how to safely operate it. Here are some key points to emphasize:

• Focus on the ride: Keep your eyes on the trail and avoid distractions

• Stay in control: Keep feet on the footrests and hands on the handlebars at all times

• Respect your machine: Keep hands and feet away from hot and moving parts

• Follow speed limits: Drive slowly and leave stunts to the pros

• Maintain space: Keep a safe distance between you and other ORVs

• Be aware of your conditions: Don’t ride in the dark, extreme weather, or in unfamiliar locations

A key contributing factor to many ATV accidents is underestimating the skill needed to safely operate the vehicle. ATVs have a narrow wheelbase and are easy to throw off-balance, especially while turning or riding on uneven ground. A practical, hands-on safety course can help equip your kid with the skills they need for off-road success.

Look for a course tailored to your child’s age group. Even getting a feel for driving the ORV under the supervision of an expert—especially if they’re a non-driver—can instill good habits and confidence.

One study of nearly 5,000 Iowa students found that over one-fifth had been in a crash where they were ejected from the vehicle or rolled over in the previous 12 months.* Only 15–26% had received any kind of education or training and even fewer—5% on the high end—had completed an ATV certification course with hands-on training.*

While the study didn’t correlate training courses with fewer injuries, they did find that kids who go through formal ATV safety training are more likely to stick to safe riding habits like wearing a helmet, avoiding paved surfaces, and allowing only one rider at a time.

Up to 95% of youth ATV fatalities occur when kids under the age of 16 ride adult-sized ATVs.* Full-sized ATVs are built for power and speed, weighing up to 900 lbs., with engine displacement as large as 700cc and a top speed of 80 mph.

Generally, kids don’t have the weight or strength to safely be an active rider of a machine this large. Riders need to be able to shift their body weight with the ATV to keep it upright and be able to push it off themselves in the event of a rollover. And while speed obviously increases the potential for injury, it also forces them to make quick decisions on changing terrain.

In response to increasing youth injury rates, manufacturers began developing lightweight youth-sized ATVs with a lower seat height, wider wheelbase, and throttle limiters in the early 2000s. National consumer organizations then developed standards for ATV manufacturers, including the development of four age groups with corresponding speed and power restrictions.

Three-wheel ATVs have been banned in the United States since 1988. While these ORVs were popularized in the 1970s, it soon became apparent that the three-wheeled design was unstable, especially in the hands of youth riders, who were the primary target.

More than 300,000 injuries and 1,000 deaths associated with three-wheelers between the years of 1983 and 1988* prompted the U.S. government to implement the ban. It also prompted manufacturers to put a renewed emphasis on safety, resulting in a lot of the codified standards we have today.

You can still find three-wheel ATVs on the secondhand market, but don’t purchase them. If you’re looking to buy a secondhand ORV, go with more stable, four-wheeled options.

The general rule for ORVs is to never carry more riders than there are seats. Side-by-sides and other UTVs are designed to carry more than one person, but a typical straddle-style ATV is a solo vehicle. If you ride with a passenger, you can upset the weight distribution and tip more easily.

Even though it’s common practice, it’s dangerous for small children to ride with adults. If seated in front of you, a child can access the controls of the ATV, distract you, and obscure your sightlines. Kids riding on the back of an ATV—either straddling the seat or sitting on the back—can easily fall off and get hurt.

Despite their name, ATVs aren’t safe on all terrains. ATV tires are designed with an aggressive tread that can make them unpredictable on a paved surface. If your steering and handling are impaired, you’re more likely to collide with objects near the road, like mailboxes and light posts, crash with another vehicle, or roll over. Injuries from roadway crashes are often more severe than those from off-road accidents.

In fact, more than half of ATV deaths occur on public roadways.* Despite this danger, some localities have legalized ATV traffic on public roads. Before riding, make sure to check your local laws. Many places have regulations that bar children from riding on public roads, except for designated trail crossings.

Kids under 16 should be supervised any time they use an ATV. If you’re watching, kids are more likely to wear their protective gear and make better choices. You’re also there to correct missteps and make sure young riders follow the rules.

For older children and young adults, the buddy system is a great way to keep each other accountable and make sure they’re not alone in case of a malfunction or crash.

With proper preparation and the additional safety features built into youth-model ATVs, you and your kids can help reduce your risk of dangerous incidents.

You can manually adjust the top speed on most youth-model ATVs based on the age, maturity, and experience level of the rider. Check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to adjust your model’s speed limiter.

Remote shut-off features come in several styles. Some models come with a rider tether that cuts power to the engine if it’s removed, like in the case of a fall or crash.

Others allow parents to shut off the engine from a long distance using a remote control or app. These features are great for peace of mind. If your child loses control of their ORV, a remote kill switch can help you properly respond to the incident.

Head and neck injuries are some of the most common and serious risks facing youth ATV riders, which is why a proper helmet is so important. Some states even require children to wear helmets while operating ORVs.

Look for ATV helmets that have been safety tested and approved by ANSI, the DOT, or SNELL. They should fit snugly and securely while maintaining a clear field of vision. Full-face helmets are the safest option, but if your helmet doesn’t have a face shield, you can use an approved pair of goggles.

Along with a helmet, proper ORV gear includes:

• over-ankle lace-up boots

• gloves

• long pants

• long-sleeved shirt or jacket.

You may want to adjust pieces of gear based on the weather and terrain. A forest trail, for example, may call for a tougher jacket to protect from brush punctures.

To discourage night riding—which is statistically more dangerous than riding in daylight—many manufacturers don’t equip their youth-model ATVs with headlights. However, if you’re going to be riding on public trails or in inclement weather, it’s important to make sure your child can see and be seen in all situations.

You can add reflectors, lights, and brightly colored whip flags to your child’s ATV to make them more visible from a distance and in dense landscapes.