The 4-H Community ATV Safety Program

Abstract

The 4-H Community ATV Safety program, which was initiated in Alaska and then expanded nationally throughout the United States, educates youth and adult users of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on ways that they can reduce the risk of serious injury through workshops, courses, camping programs, mass media, and community ATV clubs. ATVs are most frequently used for labor or recreational purposes; however, despite their popularity, their use can result in serious injury. The 4-H Community ATV Safety program provides education and hands-on training to young riders and the adults who supervise them through safety curriculum and resources at 4-H community sites dispersed throughout most states in America. Training workshops are offered throughout the year at different locations to train youth-adult teams in order to customize a locally based and sustainable ATV safety program. The efforts made by the 4-H Community ATV Safety program towards enhancing ATV safety across the United States are recognized as exemplary practice and provide a foundation that other sport- and recreation-related injury prevention programs might utilize.