CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2 BRENT MITCHELL
Detachment 1, C Company, 1-169th Aviation
Tennessee Army National Guard
Smyrna, Tennessee
It was a typical day in Tennessee — nice weather, beautiful scenery and plenty of fun things to do. I was in high school and, like many people throughout the country, raced all-terrain vehicles during my free time. I’d never taken an official safety course, but my father did a good job giving me instruction on proper riding techniques.
On this day, I had grown tired of riding the same old trails that surrounded our property, so I cleared a new one to practice for an upcoming race. After a few passes, though, I didn’t think it was much of a test either, so I headed out in search of more challenging terrain. I soon found what I was looking for in a dried-out creek bed.
I decided to incorporate this newly found territory into my practice race loop. I made my way down a hill into the creek bed, rode a short distance and then searched for an area to climb back out. The sides were quite steep, but I soon found a spot that looked climbable. There was not much room to gain speed, so I put my ATV in first gear and just went for it. About three-quarters of the way to the top, I lost all forward momentum and the ATV slid back down the hill. I decided to try it again.
On the second attempt, the same result occurred. This time, however, as I slid back down the hill, my right-rear tire bumped a tree. This caused the ATV to spin sideways and roll over to the left. I was not overly concerned, though, because I had flipped an ATV in the past.
Instinctively, I jumped off and tried to get out of the way. Failing to consider the lack of traction, I slipped and fell. The ATV continued to roll, and the handlebar landed on my hand. Once the ATV came to a stop, I got up and rolled it back onto four wheels. I then sat there and thought about a better way to get out. I eventually found an exit that was not as difficult and finally made it out of the creek bed.
By now, it was late afternoon and my hand was really starting to bother me, so I headed home. Along the way, my hand throbbed as I traversed the bumpy terrain. My dad was standing in the garage when I got home and asked if I was all right. He could tell I had wrecked because I was covered in dirt. I told him about my hand and he decided we better have a doctor look at it.
X-rays later revealed that I had broken a bone in my right hand. I was crushed because I knew this would affect my riding time. In fact, it caused me to miss the next six weeks of the race season. Fortunately, after six weeks in a cast, I was back to normal.
I learned a few lessons that day, including:
- Never ride alone. If something were to happen, as it did to me, a riding buddy will be there to assist or go for help.
- Don’t ride terrain that exceeds your skill level. I was an experienced rider and thought I could handle any challenge. I was wrong.
- Always let someone know where you’re going and when you plan to return. When you don’t show up, they’ll know where to start looking for you.
- Take the appropriate safety courses.
- Ensure that you and anyone else you ride with wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Accidents can happen in a flash. PPE can save your life.
FYI
The following tips from the ATV Safety Institute can help you avoid having an accident like the one described in this story:
- Some hills are too steep for your abilities. Use common sense. If the hill you’re approaching looks too steep, it probably is. Also, some hills are just too steep for your ATV, regardless of your abilities.
- Never ride past the limit of your visibility. If you cannot see what is on or over the crest of a hill, slow down until you have a clear view.
- The key to being a good hill rider is to keep your weight uphill at all times.
When approaching an uphill climb, you should:
- Keep your feet firmly on the footrests.
- Shift the ATV into a lower gear and speed up before climbing the hill so you can maintain momentum.
- When approaching an uphill climb, either move up on the seat and lean forward, or stand and position your torso over the front wheels.
As you’re climbing, you may need to shift to a lower gear to prevent lugging the engine or stalling. To shift into a lower gear on a hill, remember:
- Keep your bodyweight forward as you prepare to shift gears. For steeper hills, lean forward as much as possible.
- Shift quickly while momentarily releasing the throttle; this will help keep the front wheels from lifting.
If you don’t have enough power to reach the top of the hill but still have forward momentum and enough room to turn around safely:
- Keep your weight uphill.
- Make a U-turn before you lose speed.
- Proceed downhill in a lower gear, keeping your weight to the uphill side.
If you’re riding uphill and lose all momentum:
- Keep your weight uphill and apply the brakes to come to a stop.
- Never allow the ATV to roll backward.
- Apply the parking brake while keeping your weight uphill.
- Dismount on the uphill side or to a side if pointed straight uphill, and follow the procedures described in your owner’s manual.
Finally, for nearly all outdoor activities, proper PPE and clothing add to the experience. ATV riding requires protection for the head, eyes, hands and feet. Although complete protection is not possible, knowing what to wear and how to wear it can make you feel more comfortable when you ride and reduce the chance of injury. Never operate an ATV or ride as a passenger without a quality motorcycle helmet, eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket. To learn more, take an ATV rider course or download Tips and Practice Guide for the All-Terrain Vehicle Rider at https://atvsafety.org/ASI-Tips-and-Practice-Guide/.
Source: ATV Safety Institute