UTV Safety Essentials

UTV

Always wear over-the-ankle boots, long pants, gloves, and a certified helmet. Investing in a full protective suit is also a good idea.

Stick to the trails and avoid paved surfaces. It’s best to carry only the number of passengers the UTV is designed for. Avoid driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Helmet

The most crucial piece of safety equipment on your UTV is a helmet. Always put on a helmet for yourself and any passengers and make certain it fits nicely and fastens securely. Choose a full-face helmet that covers your mouth and chin, which offers the most comprehensive head safety. There are also many one-of-a-kind features you may select from, like vented visors, cooling systems, and digicam mounts that assist you in capturing all of your off-avenue adventures.

UTVs are not toys and should only be operated off-highway on designated trails at a safe speed. Be courteous and respect other trail users like dirt bikers, motocross riders, or hikers by keeping your pace and driving cautiously. Only carry passengers as much as your UTV is designed for, and ensure all passengers wear helmets.

Seatbelts

Seat belts can significantly reduce the risk of ejection during rollovers, keeping operators and passengers in place. They also help to maintain stability and prevent the UTV from tipping over when driving up or down slopes and hills.

It’s important to remember that a UTV is not a toy designed for children to ride on without adult supervision. Children can be severely injured when they’re they’re thrown from the vehicle.

Children should only be allowed to ride in a Yamaha UTV, designed explicitly for their size, and use the safety features installed in the vehicle, including window netting and seatbelts. They should also avoid riding on paved roads and stay on designated trails.

UTV

Protective Gear

Driving a UTV calls for the right safety equipment for both you and your passengers. All riders have to put on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy boots, and gloves. In addition, it is great to have a couple of goggles to guard against debris and branches that could hit your head all through a journey.

Staying on the trail is also critical for your safety. Riding off-road can lead to severe injuries and even death if your UTV is involved in a rollover crash.

Manufacturers recommend that beginning and inexperienced drivers (along with their passengers) read the owner’s manual and product warning labels and complete a certified safety training course before operating an ATV or UTV. Unattended vehicles are tempting targets for joyriders, especially children, so it’s important to have redundant safety features like a keyed ignition or a No-Start control.

Roll Cage

When you get out there and go fast on rugged terrain, it’s always good to have protection if you roll your UTV. A quality UTV roll cage has heavy-duty tubing that can take a significant impact without losing structural integrity.

They also add all-important rigidity to your chassis, stopping that flex that can cause your Side-by-side to lose control in a crash. Pull up some classic crash test footage from cars, and you’ll see why cages are mandatory in racing and a popular safety upgrade for street vehicles.

Adding a roll cage is an easy way to keep your passengers safe and improve the style of your UTV.

UTV Aftermarket Safety Products

The cab frame of a UTV is not designed or intended to provide rollover protection. Manufacturers warn operators to keep their hands, feet, and heads inside the cab during rollovers and always to wear seat belts.

If you must transport passengers in your UTV, ensure they have DOT-approved helmets. Helmets are the best way to protect your brain and face in an accident or rollover.

Riders must also wear over-the-ankle boots, long pants, and an extended-sleeved shirt to shield themselves against rocks, brush, and heat of the system. Additional protective equipment like elbow and knee pads, chest protectors, and arm guards are to be had to enhance safety similarly. First aid kits are essential for any rider. A fire extinguisher is another good addition to have on hand.