Make safety your first priority when children are out riding on ATVs during this Christmas holiday season.
The ATV industry’s representative body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), is urging parents to observe the known safety practices, and to supervise younger riders as the festive season is often used as an opportunity to visit friends and families on farms and properties around the country.
The major contributing factors to incidents identified by three coronial inquests are; children riding full size ATVs, carrying passengers on single seat ATVs, and lack of protective gear worn by riders. Parents should ensure that these issues don’t arise over the holidays.
The FCAI encourages all families to be safe and offers the following advice:
- Remember that full sized ATVs are not designed for children under 16 years of age. Every year, children suffer serious injuries riding ATVs they can’t control nor ride safely. Parents should not allow kids on these machines.
- Single seat ATVs are not designed to carry passengers. Always ride one-up only on single seaters.
- If you are looking to buy an ATV for a child under 16, get some good advice on the right-sized machine to suit the child and the best safety equipment. An ATV dealer will provide no-obligation advice.
- Always have an adult supervise children riding ATVs and mini bikes.
- Children must be taught how to ride an ATV correctly, and preferably enrol them in a training course so they can ride using the proper techniques. Professional rider trainers instil good technique and safe practices that can save your children from serious injury.
- Safety gear including helmets, eye protection, sturdy boots and gloves, and long pants and long sleeves are all very important in reducing injuries.
The FCAI wishes you a safe and enjoyable Christmas break, and encourages parents to take special care with their children when farm machinery and motorised vehicles are used.
For more information, contact:
Mark Collins
ATV Manager
FCAI
0499 188 133