Texas ATV Riding with your Family Can Be Both Safe AND Fun!

There’s no doubt about it - riding ATVs as a family is a great way to have some summer fun, Texas style! Your whole family can enjoy riding together as long as you take the time to make sure you are riding legally and safely. If you follow proper safety guidelines, you and your family can have fun on your ATVs all summer long. For a complete range of ATVs at affordable prices, check out ATV Discounter at www.atvdiscounter.com.

Most ATVs are single rider machines. It is never safe or legal to carry a passenger, either adult or child, unless the ATV is designed by the manufacturer to carry passengers.

In order to operate an ATV on public property, anyone under age 14 must complete a safety-training course. In the course, driving skills are demonstrated and tested. Children under 14 must also be supervised by a parent or legal guardian.

When operating an ATV, safety helmets and protective eyewear must be worn. While this is the only gear that is legally required, for the safest riding, you should also wear gloves, long sleeved shirts and full-length pants and shoes or boots that come up over the ankle. This type of gear provides protection from the sun as well as protection from abrasions or scrapes from rocks, gravel, tree branches, etc.

ATVs are off road vehicles. This means they are not to be ridden on public roadways, except under certain circumstances, such as crossing the road or for agricultural purposes with specific safety restrictions that must be followed.

An ATV must have proper brakes and a working muffler. In addition, head and taillights must be used within a half hour of sunrise or sunset or anytime that visibility is limited.

One of the biggest safety concerns when riding ATVs as a family is when children operate a machine that is too large for them. Children under 16 should never operate an adult sized ATV. The allowable sized engines for children are 6-12 years old- under 70 cc; 12-16 years old- 70 to 90 cc; 16 years and up – 90 cc and up. Children are physically too small and simply do not have the reaction time needed to operate larger, faster machines. An ATV that is under 70 ccs is not designed to operate faster than 15 MPH and can actually be outfitted with a governor that prevents them from going over 10 MPH. The 70cc to 90cc-sized engine is designed to go up to 30 MPH and can be limited to 15 MPH. These slower speeds help make the vehicles safer for kids to drive.

It is imperative as parents to teach your children safe and legal riding techniques when operating ATVs. The best way to teach kids is through example, so make sure that as adults you are also operating your ATV safely. Operate your machines only on public lands or land that you have permission to ride on. Watch for No Trespassing signs. Look for chains, rope or wire that may cross an entryway to a piece of property. These types of barriers can not only signal an area that is private land, but can also be extremely dangerous if you don’t see them and collide with them. Come to a complete stop when entering unfamiliar land and look carefully for these types of closures. Never let children ride ahead alone or unattended.

You can find both adult sized ATVs as well as smaller youth sized machines at great prices that will make ATV weekends even more enjoyable!  ATV Discounter has several locations throughout Texas, so you are sure to find one that is convenient. You can also order online and have your fully assembled ATV delivered right to your door. Visit www.atvdiscounter.com today and start enjoying your summer riding those Texas trails with the whole family.