All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Training Available New Years Weekend

Dec. 31, Jan 1-2, 2016 two half-day, hands-on ATV RiderCourse^SM to learn the proper and safe use of all-terrain vehicles are being offered from 8 am – 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm –4:30 pm near the Dumont Dunes visitor center. The ATV RiderCourse is conducted by certified instructors from the nationally recognized ATV Safety Institute (ASI), which has been conducting these courses for more than 20 years.

Information about class location and availability can be found at www.atvsafety.org (click on “Online Enrollment”) or by calling (800) 887-2887. The ASI ATV RiderCourse is free for purchasers of most new ATVs and it is available to others for a reasonable fee.

Local ASI Instructors, John and Nicole Slapper said, “It’s critical that riders and non-riders alike understand the importance of the safe and responsible use of ATVs. Parental supervision is a key element to a child's safety and children under the age of 16 must be supervised at all times when operating an ATV. Parents literally hold the key to their children’s safety. Every ATV has an ignition key, and when a parent or guardian controls the key, they control the ATV’s use.”

The ATV RiderCourse offers training for youth aged 6-11 where a parent or guardian must be present or participate in the training, as well as training for teens and adults.

The course is conducted completely outdoors and students practice basic safety techniques with hands-on exercises covering starting and stopping, turning – both gradual and quick – negotiating hills, emergency stopping and swerving, and riding over obstacles. Particular emphasis is placed on the safety implications relating to each lesson.

The course also covers protective gear, environmental responsibility and state and local laws. The ATV Safety Institute also offers free interactive online courses for youth, teens and adults on its website in preparation for taking a hands-on ATV RiderCourse or as a refresher after they have taken a course.