ATV Safety
Riding through the woods and over rough trails on your powerful ATV is a great way to get your adrenaline pumping on the weekends. It’s essential that you follow a few safety guidelines, however, to keep you and others safe and happy while having a good time. The fine folks at Abernathy Cycles want you to keep riding for years to come, so we’ve drawn up a list of ATV safety tips.
Looking to get your hands on a new Polaris® ATV? At Abernathy Cycles, located in Union City, Tennessee, we have an incredible selection of new and pre-owned ATVs and quads for you to peruse if you’re in the market.
Get The Gear
It’s important to protect your body when you’re on any kind of open vehicle that exposes you to the elements and doesn’t shield you in the event you fall off or crash. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with a good grip that won’t slip off easily. Cover your arms with long sleeves and wear pants to protect your legs from scrapes as you speed through underbrush. Eye protection is a necessity as small pebbles and other injurious materials will be kicked up by your ATV as you go.
Most importantly, you need to wear a good helmet. You have no seatbelt or airbags to protect you in an ATV, leaving you vulnerable in a crash. At best, your ATV will have a rollover cage around it, but if you’re flung off, you want something keeping your head intact. Don’t skimp on this detail. Your local ATV dealer can help advise you if you have questions about what kind of helmet to get.
Perform Regular Maintenance
Staying up to date on maintenance for your ATV is important whether you ride it every weekend or every few months. If you’re riding often, you’ll find yourself doing certain tasks more frequently than you will if you only ride occasionally, but don’t forget that components can wear down while in storage and need replacement, too. Check your tire pressure before every ride and look for cracks in the rubber. Fill up your gas tank before every ride so you’re not stranded when you unexpectedly run out of fuel. Look for any signs of damage before you get on your ATV, and check the brakes and throttle while you’re at home to make sure they function well.
Common Sense Practices
As when riding any vehicle, ATVs require you to exercise a certain degree of caution while operating them. Don’t drink or use recreational drugs before heading out on your ATV. You want your reflexes to remain sharp and your judgment unclouded to keep you from taking risks that could land you in the hospital. Some prescription drugs can impede your ability to operate heavy machinery, so look at the labels and talk to your doctor before you jump on an ATV if you’re on such a drug.
Don’t use your cell phone or other devices while riding. It may seem obvious, but it still needs saying. Also avoid overloading your ATV with more passengers than it’s intended to hold. There are weight and passenger limits for a reason, and that reason is to keep you safe. Extra weight changes the way your ATV handles while you’re driving it and this can mean you’re less able to change course when an obstacle presents itself.
Be courteous when riding through areas where other people may be camping, hiking or also riding quads. Don’t jeopardize your safety or the safety of others by showing off and being reckless.
Stay Within Your Limits
Knowing your limits when you’re riding an ATV is important. If you’re going on a path you’ve never taken, don’t go at top speed -- take things slow and feel out your surroundings before you speed up. Try to ride only during daylight hours and fair weather conditions. Visibility is essential to staying safe on and off the trails. Don’t ride so long that you exhaust yourself and don’t have the energy to find your way home. Following these tips will help keep you safe and make sure you find your ride enjoyable instead of stressful.
Now that you’ve briefed yourself on some good safety practices regarding ATVs, you’re ready to go tear it up off-roading this weekend. Need to get yourself equipped with an ATV? Come to Abernathy Cycles, where we carry the latest brands, including Polaris models. Abernathy Cycles’ showroom is in Union City, proudly serving customers from nearby Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee