Safety is important, and where rules are, safety normally is. Rules and regulations are established to keep people safe. Differing in regions and locations, the rules for kids’ electric four wheelers and other electric bikes and rides are designed to protect and should be followed.
First of all, the laws differ for each region and country. However, here are a few general rules and regulations for riding electric four wheelers in the US, specifically for kids.
How to Know the Rules for Your Specific Area
Regardless of which state or region you live in, there is going to be a local police department, NEWS journal or publication of state laws. There is no excuse for not knowing the limits, requirements, and restrictions of anything in your current location.
Regulation booklets and guides are easy to download or receive. The first and most obvious place to go would be an ATV dealership, where they will have plenty information for you always in stock. Talk to a dealer or ask for a pamphlet.
Additionally, your local DNR office (Department of Natural Resources) DMV office (Department of Motor Vehicles) will have some kind of local information for you.
And of course, there’s the internet. Use multiple sources to research the specific laws for your state.
General Regulations for Kids and Teens’ ATVs in the US
1. Anyone Under the Age of 16 Must Have Parental Permission.
This means that a parent or guardian in the authoritative position over a child under the age of sixteen must grant them the permission to ride an ATV anywhere and at any time.
Some states even require a safety certificate proving that the rider knows the safety and local requirements for riding a four wheeler on the roads or in residential areas. In others, parental permission is all that is needed.
Regardless, all riders should be mindful of the law and of the people around them. If riding in residential areas please consider the property of others and don’t make obnoxious noises in the middle of the night.
2. Anyone Under the Age of 18 Must Wear a Helmet.
In some states this is a definite requirement and if caught without one, an officer has the right to pull you over and place restrictions on your vehicle.
Also, the rider isn’t the only one required to wear a helmet. Any and all passengers are not excluded. All people on the vehicle must have a helmet, by law.
3. Kids Under Age 10 Can Only Ride on Private Property.
It is not until age twelve that kids can ride on public places and roadways, if accompanied by an adult with a valid driver’s license and in some states, a safety certificate.
Teens ages sixteen to seventeen are allowed to drive alone and on public property if they have a valid driver’s license and sometimes an ATV safety certificate, especially if crossing roadways or near highways.
4. Ages 12 to 17 Can Only Carry One Other Passenger.
Just like driving laws for teens in most states, the same rule applies for minors’ ATVs.
If under the age of eighteen, an ATV driver is not allowed to carry more than one other passenger with them, except that passenger must be a legal parent or guardian.
5. Ages 12 to 15 Must Be Accompanied by a Parent or Guardian if Riding on a Public Road.
Similar to the previous stated laws, parents or guardians need to have a valid driver’s license and keep a watchful eye on their youth rider.
If the parent or guardian is on a separate ATV but close by and supervising, the rider must obtain proof of ATV Safety Certification.
100,000 Emergency Room Patients Annually Due to ATV Accidents
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, roughly 100,000 people are taken to the emergency room every year because of ATV incidents, all across the country.
Per the Consumer Product Safety Commission, twenty five percent of those 100,000 people were under age 16.
Make sure that you are aware of your local electric vehicle laws. Recently, these laws have been strictly enforced due to the growing number of deaths caused by ATV’s. If caught disobeying any laws by a roadside authority, they have the right to confiscate or place restrictions on the driver, the driver’s license, and the vehicle.
Additionally, it is responsible and mature for drivers of any age to be mindful of others around them. Ride at wise times. It is not recommended to ride at night, especially in a careless manner.
This disturbs the people around you trying to sleep, increases the risk of collision, and is overall unsafe.
No matter what time of day, the law is still the law, and it is there to ensure everyone’s safety.
