ATV & SNOWMOBILE SAFETY 3
CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUTH When deciding whether or not to allow a youth to operate an ATV, there are special considerations that you should keep in mind. Although a child may be the recommended age to ride a particular sized ATV, not all youth have the strength, skills, or judgment needed to operate an ATV safely. You should supervise your child’ s operation of any ATV at all times, and should permit use only if you determine that they have the ability and judgment to operate the ATV safely. You should also read: Parents, Youngsters and ATVs, available from ASI.
For more information about ATV Safety, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or the ATV Distributors’ Safety Hotline at 1-800-852-5344.
Remember, Maine requires riders under 16 years of age to successfully complete an ATV safety course and be accompanied by an adult, with a few exceptions.
In addition, follow manufacturer’ s recommendations( not law) listed below that provide the minimum ages for ATV model sizes.
ATV MODEL SIZE Under 70cc
MINIMUM AGE
6 years and older 70 – 90cc 12 years and older Over 90cc
16 years and older
Youth operators or passengers under 18 must wear protective headgear( such as a helmet) that conforms with minimum standards of construction and performance as prescribed by the American National Standards Institute( ANSI) specification Z90.1 or by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218( Bicycle helmets do not meet this standard). Additional age requirements for the operation of snowmobiles and ATVs, including crossing public ways, can be found on pages 7 and 15.
ICE SAFETY When it comes to snowmobiling, the safest rule is to never cross lakes or rivers, since doing so puts you at risk of plunging through the ice. If you decide to snowmobile on ice, make sure the ice is safely frozen and only trust your own judgment.
Drowning is a leading cause of snowmobile fatalities so buying a buoyant snowmobile suit could be a life-saving decision. If you do go through the ice, your helmet and snowmobile suit, even if it’ s non-buoyant, may keep you afloat for several minutes. Try sliding back onto the ice, using anything sharp to dig in for pull. Kicking your feet like a seal can help propel you onto the ice.
If the ice keeps breaking, continue moving toward the shore or the direction from which you came. Don’ t remove your gloves or mitts. Once on the ice, you should roll away from the hole, making sure not to stand up until you are well away from it.
ICE THICKNESS In the wintertime, outdoor enthusiasts frequently need to know how thick the ice is and whether it is safe to walk across it. The American Pulpwood Association has published a handy reference chart that gives a good rule-of-thumb for pond and lake ice thickness.
This table is for clear, blue ice on lakes. Reduce the strength values by 15 % for clear blue river ice. Slush ice is only one-half the strength of blue ice. This table does not apply for parked loads.
ICE THICKNESS in inches
PERMISSIBLE LOAD ON CLEAR, BLUE LAKE ICE reduce strength values for other types of ice
2 " One person on foot 3 " Group of people( walking single file) 7½ " Passenger Car( 2 ton gross) 8 " Light Truck( 2½ ton gross) 10 " Medium Truck( 3½ ton gross) 12 " Heavy Truck( 7 – 8 ton gross) 15 " Heavy Truck( 10 ton gross) 20 " 25 tons 25 " 45 tons 30 " 70 tons 36 " 110 tons
ATV SAFETY COURSE INFORMATION
Maine law requires a person 10 years of age or older but under 16 years of age to successfully complete a training program prior to operating an ATV on land other than that owned or leased by their parent or guardian or on which they live. ATV safety training is encouraged for all riders regardless of age. Maine offers in-person courses for ages 9 and up. Courses are instructed by certified volunteer instructors, and held at various locations statewide. Pre-registration is required. In-person courses include 6 hours of instruction. Courses are scheduled based on instructor availability. An online combination course( ATV / Snowmobile Safety) is available for ages 12 and up.
Find a course and learn more at mefishwildlife. com / safetycourses or call( 207) 287-5220.
DON’ T FORGET TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SNOWMOBILE AND ATV CLUBS!
2024-25 STATE OF MAINE SUMMARY OF LAWS & RULES ATV & SNOWMOBILE