Two victims of All Terrain Vehicle accidents have died in Illinois since Friday.
An eleven–year–old girl from Manito, was killed after the ATV she was on rolled over on a hillside.
News 25's Eric Shangraw looks at the safety precautions all riders need to take... no matter what their age.

A training video produced by Children's Hospital of Illinois on riding ATV's stresses the importance of going slow down uncharted trails.
It also spells out the size of machines appropriate for each age group.
Children six and older should be on machines under 70 cc's.
70–to–90 cc's for kids 12 and older.
–Only kids 16 and older should be allowed on ATV's with 90 or more cc's.

"It is important that a rider fit their vehicle. They need to be able to steer the machine and shift their weight accordingly," said OSF Emergency Physician Dr. John Hafner.

Wearing the right equipment is also a major deterrent to injury.

Use your head to protect your head. Doctors say 67% of all severe head injuries using ATV's would be avoided if their rider would wear a helmet.

"You want to also make sure they have long sleeves. –Long pants and boots that cover their ankles. That way they are keeping their entire body safe from anything they encounter on the trail,' said Yvette Whitehurst, a Safety Advocate with Children's Hospital of Illinois.

At Greyboy Motorsports in Peoria Heights, you'll encounter a brochure from Children's Hospital hanging on each ATV. It spells out the importance of safe riding and training.

"It offers them a chance to take the rider safety class for free at the manufacturers expense. And give us a chance to tell them the safety features they need to look for and the safety equipment they need to have," said Sales Manager Roger Richie.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no children under the age of 16 ride an ATV.
But if they do, size of the machine and age of the rider matter most when it comes to safety.