Riding With A Whole New Respect • Back to ATV Safety In a matter of a few seconds your life can change forever ! At 16, I thought it couldn’t happen to me, but it did. As a result of an ATV crash, I became a paraplegic paralyzed from the waist down. Many factors contributed to my rollover: two people on the ATV; a downhill corner; excessive speed; impaired judgement; and no helmet. I am very fortunate to have survived this preventable collision. Today, I still ride, but I ride with a whole new respect. Take it from me – think about safety and use common sense. Ride with a whole new respect. Avoid facing a life-altering situation. Please ride safe and have fun! While Riding Stay in control at all times and always ride within your ability.  Remember… speed kills! Drive sober.  Consuming alcohol or drugs before riding impairs judgement and slows your reaction time. Always wear an approved motorcycle helmet, eye protection and appropriate footwear. Always wear protective clothing such as long sleeved shirts, long pants and leather gloves. Cornering Ease off on the throttle while entering a corner. Never take a corner at a speed you can’t control. Begin wide turns by leaning your upper body into the turn to maintain control of the machine. Make sharp turns by shifting your whole body towards the inside running board. Climbing Hills Keep your feet firmly planted on the footrests. Shift into a lower gear and maintain a steady speed before you begin to climb the hill Move forward in the seat. Lean forward or stand if necessary to put your body weight on the front wheels. Source:   To the top