|
Hatfield-McCoy Taking
Safety Message Into the Schools
 With West Virginia again leading the United
States in ATV deaths, the Hatfield-McCoy
Regional Recreation Authority (HMRRA) is
launching an ATV safety initiative in southern
WV elementary schools.
“With more and more people getting in
accidents not wearing helmets we felt we needed
to do something,” said HMRRA Chief Ranger Steve
Simpkins. “The key is to start educating kids
while they’re young, and before they develop bad
habits like riding without a helmet and drinking
while they ride. Getting our law enforcement out
into the schools is the best way to reach the
greatest amount of kids.”
The trail system is currently reaching out to
schools in their 9 county project area of Boone,
Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer,
Mingo, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
Hatfield-McCoy teamed up with the ATV Safety
Institute (ASI) and the National Off-Highway
Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) to deliver
the message in ways that are both fun and
educational.
“We’ve sent all of our full-time rangers to
the ASI training course, and they are all
certified ATV safety instructors, and NOHVCC has
supplied us with ATV safety coloring books and
CD-ROMs,” Executive Director Jeffrey Lusk said.
“It makes the topic a lot more interesting than
just our rangers giving a speech. Hopefully
these kids develop safety habits for life.”
The ATV Safety Institute is a not-for-profit
agency that formed in 1988 to implement a
national program of ATV safety education and
awareness. ASI instructors teach ATV safety
courses all over the country, and to people that
have just purchased a new ATV, the class is
often paid for by the machine’s manufacturer.
NOHVCC is a publicly supported, education
foundation organized for the purpose of
developing and providing a wide spectrum of
programs, materials, and information to
individuals, clubs, associations and agencies in
order to further a positive future for
responsible Off Highway Vehicle recreation.
“Even though we have a stellar safety record
at the trail system, we see our state leading
the nation in deaths per capita every year,”
Lusk said. “As the premier off-road destination
in the state we need to do our part to educate
people about what they can do to prevent ATV
related injuries and deaths.”
The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System is currently
setting dates for visits in the 2006-07 school
year. To find out more information on the ATV
Safety Course, availability and questions about
Hatfield-McCoy Trail’s rules and regulations,
you can visit
www.TrailsHeaven.com or call Steve Simpkins
at 1-800-592-2217.
|
