| ATVs (or All Terrain Vehicles) have come a long way | | | | take before setting out in one. Do you know your |
| since they were first developed in Japan as three | | | | ATV? Can you mend it if something happens to it |
| wheeled farm to town vehicles for use in isolated, | | | | out there when you are all alone? If the answer is |
| mountainous areas. During the rainy season the steep | | | | 'No' then you need to take some classes before you |
| mountain roads often become impassable and a | | | | go anywhere, remember that if someone has to |
| three wheeled ATV proved to be an excellent mode | | | | come and find you, you are putting them at risk. Be |
| of transport. Once they saw how well ATV's | | | | sure to tell someone where you are going and when |
| performed, it didn't take Japanese manufacturers | | | | you expect to get back, and best of all be sure to |
| long to realize that the ATV could be sold to the | | | | carry some reliable form of communication with you, |
| much more affluent Americans, so in the 1970s the | | | | just in case. Even a minor injury can be serious if |
| ATV was promoted and sold as a recreational vehicle | | | | you're a long way from help, so find out if there is |
| designed to provide 'thrills' for the rider. | | | | cellphone service in the area you plan to visit and if |
| In their turn, it was long before Americans found that | | | | not, of it isn't compatible with your phone, be sure to |
| the ATV was much more than a sports bike. It could | | | | get equipped with a suitable CB radio. Yes, it will cost |
| move through terrain not accessible to four-wheel | | | | you something, but it could save your life and don't |
| drives and pick-up trucks. The ATV also became the | | | | forget, there's no monthly bill. |
| preferred transport of hunters and was used to | | | | Have you got all your safety gear on? Just a small |
| reach remote areas where it was useful not just for | | | | cut on the hand can easily get infected and lead to a |
| access, it could also help bring the kill home. | | | | very, very nasty experience indeed. Be sure to carry |
| These days the ATV comes in many different | | | | tools, food and a first aid kit. Remember than fresh |
| shapes and sizes; different types are being | | | | water is more important than food, if you know |
| manufactured for specific uses which include ranching, | | | | there will be sources of water around it's easy to |
| hunting, military, industrial and emergency services as | | | | carry a portable sterilizer which will clean even the |
| well as recreational, racing and pit vehicles. | | | | most unappetizing pond so you can be sure you |
| Because ATV's are typically one man vehicles, and | | | | never run out. |
| used in isolated areas, there are some precautions to | | | | |