It can be tempting to get out into the field immediately when you have the itch to go ATVing, but there are some essential ATV safety tips for beginners to know before you head out. Driving your ATV can be a potentially dangerous experience, and setting yourself up with the proper knowledge to keep yourself out of the hospital is immeasurably beneficial.
Wear the Right Gear
Going out to ride in jeans and a T-shirt may not be the best idea when your vehicle of choice is an ATV. Unlike in a car, you expose your body to the elements while in an ATV. As a result, the possibility of falling out of your ATV is always a risk. Show up with the right gear to prevent yourself from getting seriously injured and save yourself a trip to the ER.
What Should You Wear?
There are a few choice items that you need to get. They include:
- Boots that go above your ankle
- A protective jacket
- A DOT-certified helmet
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Knee/shin guards
Know How To Protect Your ATV
To keep yourself safe, you must keep your vehicle safe. Without the proper knowledge, you could be riding a faulty piece of equipment that may break down on you without warning. Always check your tire pressure and the state of the wheel bearing to make sure there’s no chance of sudden failure. If there’s any mud on your ATV after a ride, wash it off immediately.
Importance of Cleaning Mud
Typically, you’ll expose your ATV to a lot of mud during its lifetime, and while it may seem harmless, the mud can destroy your vehicle. If your ATV goes too long without a good cleaning, the internal components that are mud caked can deteriorate or clog up. Find ways to keep mud off your ATV and actively wash off whatever does still stick to it.
Practice Your Posture Before Riding
Riding your ATV requires that you know how to properly sit down and avoid sustaining injuries to your muscles, bones, and joints. This is a task easier said than done because your instincts may work against you when you first go riding.
Know When To Sit and When To Hover
For times when you know that the surface you’re riding on is flat and doesn’t have any unexpected potholes, it’s best to remain seated. But when the trail has more peaks, valleys, and obstacles, hover over your seat to absorb the shock of bumps better and increase visibility.
Stay Loose
Avoid keeping your muscles tensed while riding, even when the surface seems flat and stable. You never know when a bump will show up. Keeping loose will allow you to avoid straining your muscles and put less stress on your body overall.
Don’t Show Up Unprepared
One of the best safety tips for riding an ATV is always to come ready. Whether you’ve forgotten your helmet or have left mud all over your ATV, arriving at a trail unprepared can never result in anything good. Turn up organized and ready for anything. Otherwise, you run the risk of severe injury.