ATV safety training recommended for young and old
Micheal Blamires, grandson of Lynn Blamires, has his ATV Safety Training Certificate.
ATV safety training is an important part of purchasing an ATV, especially if you have young people in the family who want to ride.
The law allows children from 8 to 15 years of age to ride trails on public lands, provided they have a certificate proving they have completed an ATV training course. A person with a valid driver’s license is allowed the same privilege.
I learned the hard way the value of this training. When I bought my first ATV, I was offered a training course. Upon completing this course, I would get a check for $100, but I would have to buy a helmet to complete the course, so I couldn’t see the monetary benefit. It wasn’t until after I flipped an ATV off a dune, which buried my head in the sand, that I decided to buy the helmet and take the course.
When I did, not only did I learn a lot, but also I could see the benefit in getting young riders started correctly. I learned how to shift my weight in making tight turns, and how to negotiate steep hills and sharp descents. The class improved my skill and gave me more confidence in riding. Taking a class with the young riders in your family will create bonds that will last a lifetime.
Several options are available to take advantage of this valuable training for members of your family. The Utah State Parks website (www.stateparks.utah.gov) offers an online youth training program. The training consists of a manual that can be downloaded to smartphones, tablets and laptops, which features instructions and videos that can be taken out on the trail to enhance your training experience. The cost of the course is $30. When the test is completed, the student will be awarded a certificate of completion that will satisfy the law permitting the student the right to ride on public lands.
Another class is offered by the ATV Safety Institute (www.atvsafety.org). Courses are available for adults, teens and youth. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The training consists of classroom instruction and hands-on training on ATVs. Students are asked to bring their own machines.
A third option is offered by a new company called Junior Riders Utah (www.juniorridersutah.com). Junior Riders offers a “Basic Class Room” course that covers riding safety, controls and trail etiquette. The class ends with a 25-question test that satisfies the law and qualifies for the certificate. The program also offer a “Full OHV Class” that adds seven hours of hands-on technical training on a challenging OHV track. The Basic Class Room is $50 and the Full OHV Class is $200. Students are required to provide their own machines.
ATV manufacturers provide incentives to take advantage of this training. When you purchase a new ATV or UTV upon completing the course, you will receive a check for $100. While the requirements vary a little among companies, they do want you to have the safety training.
Whether on ATVs, UTVs or motorcycles, I have seen OHV riding become more and more a family activity. But I have also seen young people get on grandpa’s ATV without proper training and get in trouble. Owning an OHV comes with a responsibility to provide training to all who might be operating it.
When you go, take plenty of water, learn how to keep the rubber side down, and remember that you are never too old to learn. Take a training course and help get your children trained.
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