Dubois County offers free ATV safety training for youth June 20

Parents who let children ride ATVs on farms, trails or private property have a free chance to get them trained before a crash sends someone to the emergency room. Dubois County will offer a youth ATV safety course June 20 at the Ferdinand Community Center, and every participant who completes it will leave with a free helmet.

The Dubois County Health Department says it is “excited to bring back” the DNR ATV Safety Training, partnering with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Forest Park High School FFA to reach young riders before bad habits turn into injuries. The class is designed to be hands-on and practical, with instruction on Indiana ATV laws and regulations, proper vehicle operation and general safety practices.

The session will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern time. It is open to Dubois County boys and girls ages 6 through 18, but space is limited and families must register by June 15. The county says registration is required in advance.

The timing fits a broader safety message already spelled out in state law. Indiana requires all children under 18 to wear a helmet on or in any off-road vehicle, including ATVs and UTVs, on both public and private property. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says the helmet must meet U.S. Department of Transportation standards. Owners who allow a child under 18 to ride without an approved helmet can be charged with a Class C infraction, which carries a maximum $500 penalty.

Dubois County has already used this approach with a strong turnout. A Feb. 1 ATV safety training drew 27 children and 15 adults, and another session was scheduled for March 15 after that. Health department officials are again counting on the mix of instruction, helmet use and local partnerships to reach families that ride regularly and may not think about the risks until after a wreck.

Shawn Werner, the health department’s administrative director, said the partnership gives the county a chance to provide a fun, engaging, educational experience that promotes safety among youth. For Dubois County families, the June 20 class offers a practical lesson that could shape how a child rides for years to come.