You might not think that an insurance agent would also be an off-roading enthusiast, but The Hoffman Agency team breaks the mold in more ways than one. When we aren’t helping our clients protect the things they hold dearest, we’re out there enjoying every square inch of the beautiful, blessed state of Iowa. That includes plenty of fishing, plenty of camping, and plenty of off-roading, too.
In our book, ATVs and UTVs are the funnest vehicles of them all. But we’re still very careful while driving them. We have studied too many actuarial tables to take any needless risks with our personal safety. We would like you to play it safe, too, regardless of whether or not we provide your life and health insurance. That’s why we hope you’ll follow some of our ATV and UTV safety tips!
Load and Unload Safely
Don’t let its beginning or end become the most dangerous part of your adventure. Observe proper loading and unloading protocol if you want to protect yourself and your valuable vehicle.
- Use a winch to load and unload your vehicle instead of riding it up and down the ramp.
- If you do load and unload your vehicle while seated on it, make certain the ramp can support your combined weight. Also be sure to ascend the ramp in first gear.
- Keep your ramp at a safe angle; 18 degrees is considered ideal, although 16 to 23 degrees is also acceptable. An excessively steep ramp increases the risk of flipping the vehicle.
- Securely attach the ramp to your truck or trailer using straps or chains.
Observe Proper Trail Etiquette
The instant you take your vehicle off your private property, you’re no longer exclusively accountable for your own safety. You’re accountable for everyone’s safety, which is why you must exercise even greater care on public trails.
- Yield to riders who are descending hills, as they have significantly longer stopping distances.
- Shout out to other riders before you pass them, and slow down for riders who are passing you.
- Remember to keep to the right side of the trail, just like you would on any road.
- Never obstruct the trail. If you stop, do it safely far away.
Take Care on Slopes
Iowa isn’t the most mountainous state (it’s actually the 18th flattest), but that doesn’t mean an avid off-roader won’t encounter their fair number of hills here. Navigating them carefully is one of the best ways to make sure you finish your adventure in one piece.
- Shift your weight forward while you’re driving uphill. Ideally, your torso would be positioned over the handlebars or front wheels.
- Start each ascent in a lower gear, and gradually throttle up to conserve your momentum.
- Shift your weight rearward while you’re driving downhill. Slow down, and stay in a lower gear.
Even More Safety Tips
Here’s a little more important advice to keep in mind while you’re off gallivanting across the countryside.
- Ride sober. Don’t risk harming yourself and others while you’re operating your vehicle. The cold ones will stay cold until your ride has ended.
- Wear safety gear. A helmet is a must-have for any rider. A proper set of goggles will safeguard your sensitive eyes, and protective gloves and boots will do even more to minimize physical injury during an accident.
- Keep your limbs close. Did your school bus driver ever yell at you for sticking your arm out the window? They were just looking out for you, and their logic applies just as equally while you’re riding an ATV or UTV.
- Stay off of paved roads. It’s called “off-roading” for good reason. You don’t want to find out what happens when you fall on hard asphalt. You really don’t want to find out what happens when you collide with a car or truck.
- Stay under the weight limit. The average payload capacity for an ATV is 491 pounds. Different models have different capacities; know yours, and keep your load under it.
- Don’t let kids operate oversized vehicles. More than 90% of riders under the age of 16 who die or are injured as the result of ATV accidents were operating adult-size models. If your youngster is ready to hit the trail, buy or rent them an appropriately sized vehicle.
We hope your summer off-road adventures are just as safe as they are enjoyable! And remember: if you’d ever like to insure an ATV, UTV, dirt bike, golf cart, RV, snowmobile, boat, motorcycle, or other pleasure vehicle in the state of Iowa, then you’re always welcome to contact The Hoffman Agency for the policy that best fits your needs!