Ask a conservation officer

[Lee Borgersen]

Ask a Conservation Officer:

          Do kids need seat belts in ATVs?

Q:
 I just purchased a side-by-side Class 2 ATV with a roll cage and full cab enclosure. I see that it has seat belts as well. Do my kids still need to wear helmets when riding in the side-by-side?

A:
Yes. Under state law, any person under the age of 18 years must wear a helmet when operating or riding as a passenger in an ATV, including both traditional Class 1 (usually straddle-type) or Class 2 (usually side-by-side) machines. Additionally, when a seat belt is provided by the manufacturer, the juvenile is required by law to wear the safety belt when riding on or operating the machine. Many ATV crashes that result in injury or death occur when the machine overturns. On a Class 1 machine, this exposes the upper body and head to a lot of weight and crushing forces. In a Class 2 machine, there are additional issues with hitting one's head on the cage, cab, or structure of the machine. By following the helmet and seatbelt requirements and operating safely, many of these concerns can be minimized.