Envision this real-world scenario:
The middle school graduation party was going great. The pride of a good academic school year was being celebrated as this group of close friends gathered at one of their grandparents' farms for a wiener roast and games.
As evening approached and the weather cooled, a nice ride on Grandpa’s new 4x4 Side-By-Side sounded like a great idea. Five friends piled into the front and rear of this colorful, sleek, but rather tall, machine. Driving it was easy. No gears to shift. Just turn the key, put it in drive, and press the gas pedal. There was no ill intent. No worry of danger as they were simply going down a flat, country road at a speed of 30mph. Until the need to swerve to miss the neighbor’s dog. The neighbor was mowing his front ditch with a zero-turn mower with his own 3-year-old grandson sitting between his legs. He was barely able to sit, legs dangling, no shoes, no seatbelt, but at least the Roll-Over-Protection bar (ROPS) was up and secure.
Suddenly, the call came through to the 911 call center. Multiple injuries, many young teens, and one toddler. There was much confusion as there weren’t just one accident but two for first responders to sort through.
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Illinois is a state that has very few rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of All-Terrain-Vehicles. By comparison, in Wisconsin, anyone operating an ATV on public property must be 12 years of age and have passed a safety certification course on the subject.
University of Illinois Extension has begun an initiative to educate youth at the beginning of their experiences that will involve equipment with wheels. Mowers, golf carts, small tractors, ATV’s/UTV’s, Side-by-Sides, and even E-bikes are all machines that require safety measures and smart decisions for youth to remain safe. The program, Ride-Right-Rally, piloted in Adams, Hancock, Pike, Brown, and Schuyler counties in 2025 and repeated this year, has expanded to eastern Illinois in 2026, where sixth graders from Edgar County came together for a full day of safety education on these subjects.
A young girl from rural Paris, Illinois, quoted during the Ride-Right-Rally program. “My grandpa lets my little brother sit on his lap when he mows his lawn. Why would he do that if he loves him and it’s dangerous? We should have a family talk”.
Author: Curt Sinclair, University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development Specialist