UTVs, ATVs, and Safety Equipment

Let’s ride! Studying or working all day – or even doing nothing – must feel like death for the body. So let’s stir it up a little! Take your UTV out of the garage, get your safety radio and emergency medical kit to be ready, maybe take a sip of an energy drink, and let’s yeehaw off-road!

Wait, wait – just a second. Did you also remember to take safety precautions as well? You might get stuck out in the middle of the wilderness, sure – in which case, a radio or a winch is going to be useful – but what if your vehicle rolls over, or a rock punches through your windshield?

That simply isn’t going to do. Regardless of when and where you go off-roading, it’s always important to bring safety equipment with you. We’re playing with dangerous motorsport – and besides, it’s 2022 – nobody is going to laugh at you wearing a helmet.

If you still need convincing or a quick primer as to what equipment is expected of you, then keep reading! Never lack when it comes to your safety. Chances are you’ll regret it!

Must I Wear UTV Safety Equipment?

Without a shadow of a doubt, every UTV rider regardless of circumstance is suggested to wear safety equipment so as to keep themselves in pristine condition. Even if you’re a great rider, at one point or another you’re going to be surprised by an unforeseen obstacle, and I highly doubt you want that to be the catalyst to a wallet-breaking medical bill.

As such, you must make sure you buy at least the basic gear needed to protect you from a potentially tragic scenario. I’ve listed them below as well as a short paragraph for each to explain why you need them.

Therefore, make sure you get a…

Helmet

Is it any surprise the helmet is possibly the most important safety gear you could get for yourself? Your brain is the powerhouse of your existence, so any harm dealt to it could quickly spell an end to the pleasant life you’re having.

And trust me when I say that your head is in a lot of danger when you’re going off-road. Maybe you’re swirling around a muddy field in the middle of a storm, enjoying yourself as thunder crackles above your car, lighting it up and making it look like a speed demon from lightning hell.

And then the thunderstorm turns into a hailstorm, rocks start being thrown around and falling from the sky, one of them blows right through your windshield, you receive a concussion, and fall into a coma for the rest of your life.

Sound absurd, and as if it can’t happen?

Sorry, but an estimated 10% of all off-road accidents lead to permanent disability. So think again, and buy a helmet!

Protective Clothes

Depending on where you’re from, you might want to go off-roading in your UTV wearing nothing more than shorts and a t-shirt. And to be fair with you, that’s kind of fine, since we can’t expect everyone to dress up as though going on soldier duty whenever they want a bit of leisure time.

On the other hand, if your time spent in the UTV is just as exhilarating as all those racing commercials make it out to be, you might want to opt for scratch-proof or resistant clothing that can protect you from any nasty and potentially deadly nicks that might arise.

Say, for example, that you’ve been torn out of your vehicle and are sent rolling down a hill filled with rose thorns and sharp rocks. Sure, it’s going to hurt, but wearing motocross armor is likely to leave you just with a few bruises instead of, say, lacerated veins or torn tendons.

Gloves and Goggles

Your fingers and your eyes are what you primarily use when going off-road. Just as a wartime soldier protects their head – their most important body part – with a helmet, then so should you cover your wonderworking organs with protective clothing.

First of all, long periods of off-roading are going to really take a toll on your hands and fingers. Constantly rubbing your skin against the wheel is going to make it chafe at one point, which is avoidable with gloves. That’s one reason all off-road racers wear them!

Besides, anything can enter your eyes while you’re driving, which is the last thing you want to happen when you’re going full-speed alongside a sand dune. A single grain of dust can mean the difference between a good day and a completely totaled vehicle.

Stop Playing Around!

UTVs (and ATVs) are all fun and games, but all the fun can be ripped away from you in the blink of an eye if you’re not careful. Injuries and risks are aplenty in this hobby, and not taking measures to protect yourself is not only responsible but likely to be the source of regret later in your life.

So don’t think you’re luckier or more skilled than anyone else and go off-roading without protective gear: the universe will teach you a lesson at one point or another! Keep yourself safe and protected at all times.

Looking for a good off-road radio brand to keep you safe? Try this diverse range of Rugged Radios!