An all-terrain \Chlclc, m ATV". is a small. lightweight (ï¬flillhs. or less) uchnle l_(m\|\lln(g of a mott'trcyclc-lypc lramc, cnnutc, seal, and handicbars. lht: whtclc usually cnrnes equipped \.'.Ill'l three or fruit wide. wry soil tires. Al VA. ilfL' incattt Inr till-mad use or Lluatwlp- and at. d rcxttll arc humming more and tnnrummmnn in rural Un- mnn‘ Him-.u'cr, .‘tlltnt' Willi ll’tt.‘ ll'l‘ arctith pnpttinrilu ill the Al V, tomes .tn .tlnrtmntl Increase In the number nl £lLl.l<lL‘ll|".. .tttnt: Ittlal. utwlvtnt’. lil'J‘rl' nt'ltIthga lll (illltlllfll, lltt'tc tut-rt: 21%.}qu ATV» rct'txttgtctl lll tum, (the latest stall» in -.), .lllll \l‘vCil «lcztrh» ttnd lï¬ï¬ people |ll]llit'll Ill rcplult'tl AlV :IL'ClLlL‘nlk. \I.Llll‘lillll' In .m .ttlnlc pllhllslicd tn llll_' l)t|l.tlllt \1t,'tltt.t| Rt-vtt'u, (luring lltttl ..ttttc watt. ductnrx .'tt the ( llllr ilrctt‘». Ilmpttnl n1 i'hxlc‘tlt ( lulztrtu. in llllm'ul. lit‘tlit'tl M thtllt‘ilh front the .Il'L‘n nl ll\'l' llI [7 Int u rtunthct it! in I'llll‘ -. IllKlllllllll' ht.tttt (l-llllt|_L’_C, \IllfllL‘ .ttttl llllllllplt‘ lt.ttlltrcs. altalltitlcd wltilu lllllllt' -\l V. \ , ut-II :|‘- llIL' \llllCtlllL’ ltl [hilll’lll‘u .tlttl llll'll ltllttillt‘x. ll'lt.‘ .It,llll' t .lil‘ t ml» Int ll'll'NL' hi pctlttttrtt li,|||r'[|[‘~, um. ,lltttlll Sï¬lhlvtlllll. lllt’l1.'.ltl.'lll.lll\. L'\[lltlllr|llll“\ll’d-k lt-uul llll lllt' .tltttlt‘tlh .ltlti tilltll‘lt'k Caution is t" associated with ATVs. The vehicles are designed in a way that gives them unique handling characteristics that require special driving skills for safe operation on different types of ter- rain. These skills are very different from those needed for cars. motor- cycles or snowmobiles. Some of these special design and handling characteristics contribute to the high incidence of accidents in which experienced and inexperienced driters alike lose control of the vehicle. The ATV may then collide with another Object. roll over on its side. or flip over (forward or backward) and someâ€" time» ends up landing on the victim. Unlike cars. most ATVs have solid rear axles that drive both rear wheels at the same speed. While this im- prove: traction on soft ground, it also creates a tendency for the ATV to LUnianL' to go in a straight line even ii the front wheel or wheels are turned. in change direction. the driver not nnly has to turn the handlebars but, ill timcx. must also use his or her body in shift the weight of the machine on- in the outside wheel. allowing the inside wheel to slip. At the same time, he or she must keep the ATV from rolling over completely. ' chtctulicr that both three-wheel ill'lll lour-whccl AT“ can he danger- uus; they are casin destabilized and many upcrls consider them more (iii- licult to control than tntil bikes. ‘ Rcmctnhcr that an ATV handles differently than any other vehicle and involve». a lot of body movement. ‘ Remember that riding an ATV safe- ly requires the constant exercise of \hill and good judgement. ' Ask for and carefully read all the sal’cty material you can get. ' Purchase safety equipment at the some time you buy an ATV. Expect Points to remember to spend at least 34w. part i helmet. eye protection. 7 padded pants. chest ' gloves. ‘ ' Do not consider - ‘ unless you can set V training either from In Suite m4. ’l'hrontn, 3 22 ll .( t' |ul\'. \ttgux’l. September NS? Requiringskillatthehestofthm, turning gets even trickier when in, machine is on an incline or rough ground or when high speed is in" volved. Unlike vehicles with l'ndcpcmf . suspension. the ATV. with its m}! Ride. is also more vulnerable at betngovertumedwhmongwuc'c', runs over mounds or depression. m the land. This vulnerability incredm anthem faster. tilt hl‘ll‘tfl the speed, the greater the side“: .. ertia, the higher the wheel 'Itlll i," and the greater the tendency t. t- w; ATV to tip sideways. As with any pmfulwhiclc . .. J. hie of travelling at high spew, mic responsibility for the safe use - .n ATV is largely up to the drum is .l, unlike the driver of a car or t .- cycle, the ATV driver usually ti. it have to meet a minimum age I- g merit. take a training course i r sess a driver's licence The disproportionately hit; \tt accident rate is sometimes att- r 31 to such things as vehicle mn- .u experience or bad judgment "w: part of the rider. For examplt are not designed to take pm ‘J'and there is usually awaming . - 1 "ul the practice somewhere on th cle, yet this is a very common - Nut ofthe machine. Ofthe I63 u: v . -l ATV accidents teported in 0n in I984, 35 were passengers. Why do so many ATV m n have bad judgement? One c m tion is that ATV drivers oflct. take the machine seriously: ill. ‘ - it of the small vehicle with its u- ':d tires as a toy instead of the pi ~ .l-‘L fast. and potentially lethal m: i ;:c ii is. Another atplttnation is th. um of the drivers are children A. to some statistics from the ‘ trial States, children under 16 mm: -:r “5 per cent of reported iniUr' " 1"“ deaths related toATV accidcnl‘, titti- dren under 12 accounted for "4 rtr cent of the injuries and 22 W “I†of the deaths. m' to