FROM UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL NEWS SERVICE
Contact: Charles (Ed) Browning, natural resource engineering specialist
Headquartered in Jasper County
Tel: (417) 358-2158
E-mail: browningc@missouri.edu

First person column …
Wear a Helmet on ATV to Ensure Safety

The warm days of spring will surely bring out “recreational” ATVs.  Don’t allow yourself or your kids to become one of the victims of an injurious accident -- wear a helmet. 

I know, if you’re over 18 you’re not required to wear a helmet when operating an ATV.  I also know that the state of Missouri is looking into repealing the helmet law for motorcyclists. But still, I advise wearing a helmet.

Granted, you can’t hear the roar of the engine with a helmet on, you can’t feel the wind blowing in your face and you may not be able to look out of the corner of your eye and know what’s going on beside you.

Then again, if you can’t hear the roar of the engine, that is a good thing.  Your hearing is being protected.

It is also a good thing if you can’t feel the wind. Do you know how much a bug stings when you hit one at even a mere 30 mph?  The wind makes your eyes water too.

And if you can’t see out of the corner of your eye—turn your head.

In the Missouri “Motorcycle Operator Manual,” it is stated that “…one out of every five motorcycle crashes result in head or neck injuries.” and  “…helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.” 

You might argue that this only applies to motorcycles that are traveling faster than ATVs can.  However, most accidents occur when riding less that 30 mph, so I contend it fits ATVs too. 

There are two main types of helmets.

Full-face helmets provide the greatest amount of protection since they cover the head and face.  They typically have a flip-up face shield.  This type of helmet blocks all the wind and has adjustable air inlets for ventilation.

A three-quarter helmet, sometimes called an open-face helmet, can also be used although it doesn’t offer the face and chin protection as does the full-face.  When using a three-quarters helmet, you should also use a snap-in-place face shield or a pair of goggles. 

What about the military style helmet?  You might call these a half-face helmet.  By my estimation they’re about the same as a metal bowl with a chin strap.  They may satisfy the law but where’s the protection?

The Missouri Motorcycle Operators Manual has been updated and expanded by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.  The ATV Safety Institute is a division of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America.  These organizations recommend selecting a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or Snell Memorial Foundation standards. 

According to the ATV Safety Institute, all adult-sized helmets have been required to meet the DOT standard since 1980.  Compliance with the Snell standard by helmet manufacturers is voluntary.  The Snell organization has been testing helmets since 1969 and allegedly has stiffer regulations.

The outer shell of a helmet is made with materials designed to prevent penetration while the inner liner absorbs impact and cushions the head.  If a helmet has sustained an impact, it should be inspected for damage.  It may not protect you a second time if its integrity has been compromised.

Keep the helmet fastened securely or it may fly off if you have a crash.  If you or your child haven’t already, take an ATV rider course.
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Charles (Ed) Browning can be reached in the Jasper County Extension Center at (417) 358-2158. He has worked in grain handling, drying and storage facility sales, as a farm manager, and with MU Extension for 23 years. He received a master's in agricultural mechanization. In his position as a natural resource engineering specialist he provides educational programs dealing with structures, housing, water quality, environmental quality, handling animal and domestic waste, soil and water conservation, secondary containment, machinery management, farm safety, disaster recovery and computer information technology and the Master Naturalist program.