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By: Robert Janis
Safety Is Priority
One for ATV Safety Institute
A group of ATV riders approaching a hill
on a desert trail.
ATV Safety Institute (ASI) RiderCourse
student demonstrating proper body
position by shifting body weight while
looking into the turn.
ATV Safety Institute (ASI) RiderCourse
student properly looking into the turn.
ATV Safety Institute (ASI) RiderCourse
curriculum includes exercises covering
starting and stopping, turning,
negotiating hills, emergency stopping
and swerving, and riding over obstacles. |
Every organization has an agenda. In fact,
most organizations have a number of agendas.
There are only a few who are focused enough to
concentrate on one to achieve the most good. One
example of the latter is the All-Terrain Vehicle
Safety Institute. The raison d’être or reason to
be for this organization is in its name--SAFETY.
The All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute was
founded in 1988 as a division of the Specialty
Vehicle Institute of America. Its purpose is to
implement an expanded national program of
all-terrain vehicle education and awareness.
The organization notes that more than 16 million
Americans ride ATVs in a variety of ways. They
are used for recreation, serve as a tool in the
business of agriculture, and for a wide variety
of other industries and are also used by the
Armed Forces.
The ATV Safety Institute has various methods to
get the word out about safety. It has a number
of programs, and it offers publications and
videos. Many of its programs are sponsored by
members that include major manufacturers of ATVs
such as Arctic Cat, BRP, CROSSRUNNER, Honda,
John Deere, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, Polaris,
Suzuki, Tomberlin, and Yamaha.
Programs, Publications and Videos
One of the major programs of the group is the
RiderCourse. Designed for people who buy new
ATVs, the program is a hands-on course conducted
by a licensed instructor. The RiderCourse is a
half-day in length and includes hands-on
activity that is meant to teach the rider basic
riding skills. Activities include:
- Performing basic safety techniques
- Gradual and quick turns
- Negotiating a hill
- Emergency stopping and swerving
- Riding over obstacles
An average of 200 classes is held every week
across the country. Last year alone the
RiderCourse trained 41,690 ATV riders. The total
number of riders trained since the start of the
course in 1989 is 780,678.
The Institute also uses a nationwide public
awareness campaign to promote safety and
responsible use of ATVs. The campaign includes:
- A collection of 21 public service announcements
for print and web use which address the issues
of age and size recommendations, parental
supervision, environmental responsibility,
training, protective gear, and no passengers.
- Tips and Practice Guide for All-Terrain Vehicle
Riders, a booklet which answers riders’
questions about ATVs, and provides information
on proper operation and use and assists riders
in learning and respecting the capabilities of
their ATVs.
- Ride Safe, Ride Smart, a video that describes
the safety elements of riding an ATV and reviews
its many uses. The organization has distributed
9,271 copies of the video through Video
Placement Worldwide, an international company
that distributes videos to public and private
schools. The Institute claims that more than 5
million people have viewed this video.
- The Guide to Off-Highway Riding, which is a
video primarily created for new riders but
applicable to all riders. It covers elements of
safe and responsible off-highway motorcycle and
ATV riding.
- Parents, Youngsters, and All-Terrain Vehicles, a
booklet designed to help parents ascertain how
ready their children are to ride an ATV.
- ATV Hotline, which is a toll-free telephone
number which can be called for safety and
training information as well as age
recommendations for ATVs. The hotline number is:
(800) 887-2887.
- ATV Rally, which is an interactive CD-ROM which
has been distributed to more than 1.7 million
children.
- An annual letter-writing campaign to
superintendents and principals of schools
nationwide focused on the importance of ATV
safety. Included is a letter to parents and an
activity sheet for students in kindergarten
through sixth grade and seventh grade through
twelfth grade. So far this program has reached
more than 18 million superintendents,
principals, parents, and students.
“The Tips & Practice Guide for ATV Riders” and
“The Parents, Youngsters & All Terrain Vehicle”
booklets were created from information compiled
by the staff of the ATV Safety Institute from
manufacturers, knowledgeable riders, and
specific subject area references.
The programs are promoted through member
companies of the ATV Safety Institute which
offer free training nationwide to purchasers of
new ATVs.
The Institute does a number of things to make
the ATV RiderCourse available to as many
students as possible. This includes a
centralized enrollment service called
“Enrollment Express” which accommodates
purchasers of ATVs. It helps to route new ATV
users into training programs.
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