If you are an ATV enthusiast, you know very well that being outdoors is not the safest way to have fun. Although traversing muddy pools or sand dunes can give you countless memories to treasure, pushing your quad to the limit or taking safety precautions for granted can hurt. There is nothing fun about spending weeks or months in the hospital just because you deliberately chose to neglect basic safety practices. Follow these safety tips if you want to ride your ATV for many years without breaking a bone.

Wear protective gear

If you have the money to buy an ATV, you definitely have the money to spend on safety gear. In the event of an accident, your protective gear may be the only thing keeping you from serious injury. If you like to ride fast and hard, you should use the following:

• Robust MX helmet
• ATV Boots
• ATV Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Armor
• Long pants
• Long-sleeve shirt

It can be very hot in all this protective gear, but it is better to endure the heat than to lose your teeth.

Take a safety course

If you have a driver’s license, you probably appreciate the value of taking a safety course. Investing a few hours of your time to educate yourself on the correct operation of a quad can pay huge dividends in terms of safety. In addition to proper vehicle handling, the course also teaches how to behave properly while driving, making the course essential for teens and young adults who think that taking a walk outside is just fun and games.

Do not carry a passenger

Most quads are designed to carry one rider at a time and there is a very good reason for this. Unlike riding an MX bike, ATV riders need to direct their weight to maintain control over the vehicle. With that in mind, a second rider on board can make the ride extremely dangerous. Also, the combined weight of two people could be too much to control the ATV. An overloaded quad is less stable and that means you are increasing your chances of tipping the ATV.

Do not drive an ATV under the influence

When you drive under the influence of alcohol or other substances, you put yourself and others at risk. If you are not driving a car under the influence of alcohol, you should definitely do the same when you go for an ATV ride in the great outdoors.

Sure, the calm and peaceful landscape of the forest may tempt you to drink a glass or two, but resist the urge because you won’t be the same person again as soon as alcohol or illicit drugs enter your system. You will not be able to react in a timely manner, perceive and filter information efficiently, or have the necessary level of balance and control to operate the vehicle safely when alerted. Going for a walk outside is supposed to give you amazing memories, so keep it that way by resisting any temptation.

Never try silly tricks

As an amateur ATV racer, cruising the sand dunes on a hot summer day or riding like the wind over rough terrain are acceptable ways to have fun on your quad bike. What is not acceptable is building a ramp that you will use to launch yourself and your ATV 10 feet into the air so you can post a video online. A hobbyist attempting tricks and stunts on four wheels is a recipe for disaster and pain. A few seconds of fame for countless hours of pain are not worth it.