ATV Safety
Riding your ATV is a great way to spend a sunny weekend afternoon. You can blaze over dunes, hit up forest trails or coast over the prairie. Your ATV can tackle any terrain easily, but it’s important to note that riding an ATV even on gentle terrain is not risk-free, as the open-air styling and lack of seat belts make them somewhat dangerous. You can do a lot to protect yourself by planning ahead, keeping your ATV in good running order, investing in and wearing some special gear, and using your best judgment as you drive. Specialty Recreation & Marine of Coeur D’Alene is here to help you prepare yourself for some off-roading adventure times!
Invest In The Right Equipment
While there isn’t a lot of safety equipment specialized to ATVs, there are still some things you should be wearing while off-roading. The most important safety gear component is a helmet. This needs to be a DOT-rated helmet that will protect you in a crash or impact event. Helmets that are suitable for this purpose include motorcycle helmets and motocross helmets. A motorcycle helmet may be too hot and heavy for the relatively low speeds of an ATV, but its full-face shield will protect you well from trail dust and debris. If you prefer, you can wear a motocross helmet and a pair of goggles that will keep debris out of your eyes.
The rest of your gear is simply to protect you from scratches and bumps as you ride. Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy boots and gloves will keep you shielded from most of what the trail throws at you so you won’t have to patch yourself up after driving through branches. However, if you do sustain some scrapes, you should carry a first-aid kit on your ATV in its storage compartment. You’ll also want to have a small repair kit for minor fixes to your vehicle as well as your cell phone and a radio to call for help if you lose your signal.
ATV Maintenance
Before every ride, you should perform a quick inspection of your ATV to make sure it’s in good shape. Sticking to a regular maintenance schedule for oil changes and the like will help prevent any snafus on the road, too. Use a tire pressure gauge to check your tires’ pressure and look for any uneven wear or one tire that’s always low, as this could mean something is embedded in the tread. Make sure your lights and brakes work, that the engine turns over and that your fuel tank is full before each ride. If your ATV starts to operate strangely or make a lot of noise, that may mean you should schedule a professional maintenance appointment to have it looked over. Our capable service department can take care of that for you at Specialty Recreation & Marine.
Follow Safety Guidelines
Finally, when you’re out on your ATV, you should follow some common-sense practices to keep yourself and your loved ones as well as other users of the area safe. Never drink alcohol or use recreational drugs before operating your ATV, so you can maintain your focus and react quickly to obstacles, animals and other people in your path. Slow down around animals and hikers, and give campers a wide berth. Don’t rev your engine unnecessarily and stick to trails when you’re riding in areas that have them, as you don’t want to disturb wildlife or tear up the environment.
When your ATV needs service or parts, don’t hesitate to call or visit our dealership to schedule a maintenance appointment with our professional mechanics. We can get you sorted out so that your ATV is in perfect running condition. If you’re in the market for a great new or used ATV, come see our showroom to view the models we have in stock. Specialty Recreation & Marine serves the nearby communities of Post Falls, Idaho, and Spokane, Washington, with our Coeur D’Alene dealership location.
