Before You Ride
The ATV Safety Institute's Golden Rules:

1.Always wear a helmet and other protective gear.
2.Never ride on public roads - another vehicle could hit you.
3.Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
4.Never carry a passenger on a single-rider vehicle.
5.Ride an ATV that's right for your age. The guidelines are:
a.Age 6 and older - Under 70cc
b.Age 12 and older - 70cc to 90cc
c.Age 16 and older - Over 90cc
6.Supervise riders younger than 16; ATVs are not toys.
7.Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed.

Respect the Outdoors

Awareness of environmental concerns has been growing for decades. It has affected how we relate to the outdoors. It affects those of us who use off-road vehicles, and it affects those of us who manufacture and sell off-road vehicles. We all have a stake in safe, responsible riding and land use.

To keep riding areas open requires good relationships between public land managers, private land owners and others who share the land such as riders, campers and hikers. In most cases common courtesy and consideration of their interests is all that is necessary to ensure that everyone can enjoy the area. Here are a few tips to consider when you ride:

1. Learn about the area you will ride in. Contact the public land manager or private     property owner to ensure that you understand area restrictions and have 　     permission to ride there. Get maps of the area, and stay on trails if they are     provided.

2. Keep your ATV quiet. ATVs are designed to be relatively quiet while still delivering     maximum performance, smooth engine torque and spark suppression. Excessive     noise stresses wildlife, and annoys property owners and other recreation users. It     also contributes to your own riding fatigue. Less noise means you can ride farther     more comfortably.

3. Obey trail markers and closure signs. There are many reasons why an area may be     closed to ATVs including the existence of fire hazard, refuge to wildlife or plant life     and safety hazards for ATV riders. The reasons may not be obvious. If it is posted as     closed, stay out.

4. Always leave gates and fences the way you found them. This is especially important     on private lands where livestock may be kept.

5. Leave the area as clean as you found it. If you see litter, pick it up and carry it out     on your ATV. Carry a rolled up plastic trash bag and a couple of bungee cords on     your ATV. Why not leave the area cleaner than you found it?

6. Be courteous to others you may meet on the trail. Always give right-of-way to hikers     and horseback riders. Pull off the trail and stop your engine for horses. In most     areas, horses are not permitted on trails unless they are accustomed to vehicles,     but don't take a chance. The rider will likely talk soothingly to the horse. It doesn't     hurt for you to do the same to assure the horse you are no threat. Horses     respond very positively to a calm, human voice.

7. Approach livestock or wildlife on the trail slowly. In some parts of the country, range     cattle pass the afternoon under shade trees along a trail. If you startle them, they     may run directly into your path. Give them time to react and give them as wide a     berth as possible.

8. Whenever you talk to a landowner, take your helmet off. The helmet can make you     appear to be intimidating and unfriendly. Be friendly and honest in all your     discussions with the landowner & you are there as their guest.

For more ATV riding safety tips, you may visit ATV Safety Institute homepage at: http://www.atvsafety.org