ATV Florida Forum

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FORT MYERS | Bill Hagn camped out with his son in Okeechobee one recent night so Billy, 10, would be on time for class the next morning.

Billy attended an all-terrain vehicle safety course at L-Cross Extreme Events in order to ride his ATV and dirt bike legally in Florida.

Under a new law, ATV and dirt bike riders ages 6 through 16 must have certification proving they completed an off-highway vehicle safety course to ride on public land.

Too many deaths and injuries "have given a black eye to ATV and off-highway vehicles," said John Waldron, Forest Recreation Administration coordinator for the Division of Forestry.

In 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 555 died while ATV riding. Children younger than 16 made up 111 of those deaths.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported in 2006 that 771 crashes were related to ATVs. More than 680 involved injuries, while 23 were fatal.

Waldron said the original Florida law created in 2002 was to find areas for off-highway vehicle riders.

But the number of minors being killed prompted the safety revision, which passed last year and gives young riders a year to complete the training course.

Waldron said children between the ages of 6 and 16 must have their certificates when riding on public land. Those without their certificates will be charged for a noncriminal infraction and may be fined up to $100, or have their privilege revoked.

The law does not pertain to private property.

Hagn has mixed feelings about the new law. He said there are children who need the training because of their unsafe driving habits, but the provision is unfair for parents, like him, who make sure their children ride safely.

Paul Carrington is one of 123 instructors from the ATV Safety Institute conducting classes in Florida. The ATV Safety institute is a division of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, which is based in Irvine, Calif., and focuses on safety, education and awareness.

Carrington, has been training students since 2003. He said the courses usually last about four hours.

The ATV institute trains riders on three primary components.

First, they're taught about pre-riding inspection as well as starting, stopping and swerving in emergencies.

Second, they learn about protection: helmets, eye gear, long shirts and pants, gloves and over-the-ankle boots.

Third, they're taught about environmental responsibility: how to cross streams and share nature trails.

more BS

 Those that need it wont go and those that are forced to go are probably already proficient riders.
 
I just saw today while on my way home 3 small children on what looked like a predator 90 ripping around their yard. They are the ones getting hurt and the ones that wont be taking any classes.

 :Clap.gif  Well said.

we got ours afew weeks ago  the class is for people that never sat on a quad but i guess its good for the kids that need it by the way they paid me 100.$$ bucks to take the class  ;D paul is really cool

Reminds me of gun laws....it never impacts the ones that really need it.

NEXT THEY WILL WANT EVERYONE CERTIFIED BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN BUY ONE LIKE THEY DID WITH THE STREET BIKES :F :F :gr :gr

I love how they extended it to people that are 16. I guess ill get in my truck and DRIVE there along the interstate doing about 75 so i can learn how to ride my 250cc atv that ive been riding for 5 years... Makes no sense. I mean i can see the class for first time riders it would be good to learn the ropes and know how to ride but making it mandatory? I would be willing to bet out of those 771 crashes about 80% were people acting like idiots not wearing any saftey gear and paying no attention. Thats also the group i doubt would ever take this class. But hey it makes the government happy cause now its even more of a pain to be able to ride.