How to stay safe when you or your kids are riding ATVs
An ATV rider signals how many vehicles are behind him while riding trails in the Skowhegan area earlier this month. The signal is a courtesy to an approaching rider. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Maine officials are reminding off-road vehicle users to prioritize their safety following two fatal crashes in two days that claimed the lives of young people.
A 20-year-old from North Berwick died in an all-terrain vehicle crash in Piscataquis County on Saturday, according to the Maine Warden Service, while a 15-year-old died in a crash in Fort Fairfield on Sunday.
The warden service has investigated six fatal off-road vehicle crashes since spring, including five that involved ATVs and utility task vehicles, also known as side-by-sides. That does not include ATV or UTV crashes that occur on public roads, which fall under other agencies’ jurisdictions.
Ronald Fournier, a recreational safety supervisor for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, says there are two constants among fatal ATV crashes: speed and lack of helmets.
UTV fatalities, which he said are rising as the vehicle’s popularity increases, also have common threads.
“Predominantly, they are people who are not wearing their seat belts, not wearing a helmet, and they’re being thrown from their vehicle,” Fournier said. “They get partially ejected, and then the machine rolls over them.”
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Beyond the basics, there’s a lot riders can do to stay safe, whether working on their property or cruising local trails. Here’s what you need to know.
WEAR A HELMET
Wearing a helmet while on an off-road vehicle is like wearing a life jacket on a boat, Fournier said.
“It goes without saying,” he said. “But people just don’t think it’s going to happen to them until it does, and then it’s too late.”
Helmets are mandatory for riders under 18 in Maine.
“We see folks who disregard that,” Fournier said, as well as plenty of adults who forgo the safety measure that officials “can’t stress enough.”
“Wearing a helmet is one of the best things you can do to be a safe rider,” he said. The same goes for wearing a seatbelt in a UTV.
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EXPECT ANYTHING
While helmets and seatbelts can help mitigate injuries, there are ways to avoid a serious crash in the first place.
Fournier said the most common cause of crashes his department investigates is the rider’s failure to navigate a turn. Speed is often a factor, he said, but it’s also easy for riders to lower their guard in areas they frequent.
“The terrain is changing all the time,” Fournier said. “The terrain can change from a rain event or erosion or just a rock that ends up in the trail.”
When riding in unfamiliar territory, Fournier said it’s important to be prepared to suddenly come upon high-traffic areas, junctions or stretches of trail that are narrow, hilly or impede visibility — even when hazards appear to be well-marked.
“It can come down to something as simple as a sign that fell down in a wind event, and somebody crosses a road inadvertently,” Fournier said.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
Not all ATVs are created equal.
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Years ago, Fournier said, ATVs commonly had 250 cc or 300 cc engines.
“The models that are coming out nowadays, we’re talking 800 to 1,000 cc**,”** he said. “They’re faster; they’re much more of a ‘vehicle’ than they ever were.”
And just like ATVs, not every rider is the same.
“The industry is changing so rapidly, we have to remember that we’re riding a machine we’re appropriately sized for,” Fournier explained. “If you’ve got a younger rider on a larger machine, their body weight is going to have less of an impact as far as stabilizing and being able to negotiate the terrain.”
Adhering to the limits of your experience and watching your speed is also crucial, Fournier said.
SAFETY COURSES
The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife offers ATV safety courses that confer an ATV Safety Certification. The certification is required for minors under 16 to legally operate off their own land, but it’s recommended for riders of all ages.
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The courses cover ATV equipment, maintenance, laws, emergency preparedness, map and compass navigation, and environmental and trail ethics.
Anyone 10 or older can attend an in-person course taught by certified volunteer instructors. The courses run six to eight hours, according to the department’s website; many are free, while others carry small fees.
Anyone 12 and older can also obtain their certification by completing the course online for about $35.
The online course and many of the in-person courses also teach snowmobile safety.
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Tagged: ATV, maine department of inland fisheries and wildlife, traffic safety
Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,. More by Drew Johnson
