$10,000 up for grabs in "Do the Ride Thing" video contest

How creative are you with a video camera? How about your kids?

With the busy summer riding season upon us, the ATV Safety Institute (ASI) is sponsoring a “Do the Ride Thing” video contest, open to kids aged 6-18. The deadline for entries is Sept. 6, 2010. Ten prizes are up for grabs totaling $10,000 in value.

The winning videos will be used as 30-second and 60-second public service announcements (PSAs) by ASI.

Here's an example of a 60-second PSA on ASI's web site.

"What better way to motivate and inform people – especially kids and their parents – about the safe and responsible use of all-terrain vehicles than to have kids create videos that highlight one or more of the ATV Safety Institute’s Golden Rules?” said Paul Vitrano, executive vice president of ASI.

“By harnessing the social networking power of YouTube, it gives kids the opportunity to ‘Do the Ride Thing’ and help other kids ride safe/ride smart."

To enter, kids should create a 30- or 60-second video/PSA, upload it to YouTube, and submit an entry form on the ASI website. For official video content requirements, rules and entry forms, visit the ASI web site.

First-place winners will earn $1,100, and there is a grand prize of $2,500 for the best overall video.

Background:There are nearly 10 million ATVs in use across the United States, being operated by more than 35 million Americans. Many ATV owners share their ATVs so it is essential that riders and non-riders alike understand the importance of the safe and responsible use of ATVs.

This summer season is a time when children have more free time to enjoy many activities, including riding ATVs. Nearly 90 percent of youth ATV-related injury incidents occur when a youth is operating an ATV manufactured and intended for use by an adult.

Parental supervision is a key element to a child's safety. Children under the age of 16 must be supervised at all times when operating an ATV. Parents literally hold the key to their children’s safety, ASI officials said. Every ATV has an ignition key, and when a parent or guardian controls the key, they control the use.

Consumer Product Safety Commission data show that 92 percent of all ATV-related fatalities are the result of warned-against behaviors. The ATV Safety Institute has eight Golden Rules of ATV safety that address these behaviors and apply to all riders.

If you submit a video, it should be focused on one of the golden rules.

The ATV Safety Institute's Golden Rules:
1. Always wear a helmet and other protective gear.

2. Never ride on public roads -- another vehicle could hit you.*
3. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
4. Never carry a passenger on a single-rider vehicle, nor more than an operator and passenger on an ATV designed for two persons.
5. Ride an ATV that's suitable for your age.
6. Supervise riders younger than 16; ATVs are not toys.
7. Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed.
8. Take an ATV safety course. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation offers safety courses throughout the year.

*The ASI recognizes that some states, such as Idaho, allow ATVs to ride on public roads in national forests.

Best of luck in the contest!
- SS

Idaho is an adventure paradise for OHV riders; Please stay on trails and ride safe

Hi all,

The Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle Public Outreach Campaign has produced a new 30-second PSA in high-definition that emphasizes the great opportunities that OHV riders have in Idaho.

The PSA encourages OHV riders to check out our web site, which provides detailed descriptions on more than 25 places to ride, particularly for ATV riders.



The PSA also underscores the importance of staying on trails and riding safe so OHV riders can have a long future riding thousands of miles of trails in Idaho.

Do your part to be a great trail ambassador for your favorite sport.

Please spread the word about our short video and share it with your friends.

Thanks!

Watch out for kids on forest roads

In the spirit of concern about the safety of all citizens, the U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation are working together to inform off-highway vehicle (OHV) users and passenger vehicle operators about traffic safety during the summer months when recreationists spread across Idaho’s public lands.

The agencies put out a news release prior to the July 4th weekend about watching out for young kids driving OHV's on forest roads. The release was similar to a warnings issued by the Forest Service last fall, urging hunters to watch out for kids on forest roads. Here is a YouTube video about that issue.

Off-highway vehicles include motorcycles, specialty off-highway vehicles (SOHVs), utility type vehicles (UTVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

“Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation has recently stepped up its OHV safety training classes for the coming summer months to respond to the increased number of users on our public lands and to help ensure OHV users know the rules of the road,” said Idaho Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Merrill. “We encourage people to consider taking one of our free classes. The information presented in these classes will help our younger riders become better, more knowledgeable, and safer riders.”

The 2009 Idaho Legislature passed a law that includes a provision removing the requirement for individuals to have a driver’s license to operate off-highway vehicles on national forest system roads. According to Intermountain Regional Forester Harv Forsgren, the Forest Service is deeply concerned about the ramifications of untrained children on off-highway vehicles driving the same roads as passenger vehicles, recreation vehicles and logging and livestock trucks.

“During the summer, forest roads become crowded with cars, trucks pulling trailers, RVs, and larger vehicles including construction and logging trucks,” said Regional Forester Harv Forsgren. “OHV users – including unlicensed/underage users - and drivers of passenger vehicles will find themselves sharing many miles of National Forest roads in Idaho. Drivers of all vehicles should stay alert to this and drive defensively.”

Approximately 7,700 miles of National Forest System roads are open to passenger vehicles with about 700 miles either paved or two-lane. These are the type of roads where the Forest Service is most concerned for driver safety as travel speeds tend to be faster and drivers of passenger vehicles aren’t expecting to share the road with OHVs.

Be safe out there and watch out for kids on OHV's! Thank you!