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FUN TIMES

COMMON SENSE FUN KART SAFETY
From an article written by Bill Hatlam

FUN KARTS provide entertainment for a broad range of ages. Fun and safety must go hand-in-hand, or it’s possible that through a misadventure, the fun can turn to sadness.

Consider the elements of using fun karts. Drivers (and riders) must be mentally and physically capable of using a kart in the manner for which it was designed, and they must be trained to understand their responsibilities. Parents and/or owners of fun karts must assume that responsibility.

After a fun kart is purchased, how does someone learn to safety use it?
In most cases, a kart is a four-wheeled, gasoline-powered vehicle that operates very much as an automobile. It has a steering wheel, a throttle pedal, a brake pedal and a type of automatic transmission – a centrifugal clutch or a torque converter. Unlike automobiles, fun karts are designed and intended for off-road use (private property) and in fact, are illegal to use on public streets or thoroughfares. Because of the similarity to an auto, licensed drivers can easily and quickly understand how to operate a fun kart and train someone else.

READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL BEFORE STARTING THE KART!

Operating an automobile has fixed rules, enforcement and consequences for failure to follow procedures and training is generally required to secure a driver’s license. A very important way to gain education about using a fun kart is to read the operator’s manual provided with the kart.

The operator’s manual provides a wealth of information about the safe use of the kart. There are numerous warnings that alert the user to many aspects of safety and the dangers of not reading those warnings. There are instructions in the manual that amplify the safe use of the kart and how to test the systems – throttle, brake, stop switch – to ensure that they’re functioning properly before using a kart each time.

An adult must understand the importance of safety and must read the operator’s manual before letting anyone use the kart. He/she must be certain that drivers dutifully follow the instructions and use a kart in a proper “off-road” environment. Adult supervision is extremely important at all times, because often a guest driver; a neighbor, a relative, etc. may attempt to use a kart without any training or supervision, and that can readily lead to an accident.

Knowing how and where to ride a kart is important, but so is properly maintaining it. The brake must be kept adjusted, the stop switch must be functional, and the throttle mechanism must be kept clean and functioning smoothly – especially returning to idle speed.

All guards for the drive system must be functional and kept in place to help prevent entanglements of clothing or long hair. During operation of a kart, clothing, long hair, body parts must be kept in the front of the seat back and inside the kart to help prevent possible entanglement. Long hair or long loose clothing can become entangled on the “live axle” of any fun kart or possibly in the chain, under the rear wheel or any rotating portion of a kart.
The warning decals on a fun kart must be read, and the instructions followed, or personal injury can result. Warning decals must be replaced when no longer legible or missing.

Since a gasoline engine is involved with fun karts, it is very important to follow all instructions about fueling a kart, and very important to ensure that the fuel cap is placed back onto the gas tank and securely tightened, because fuel leakage can possibly case a fire.

There are many safety features built into most fun karts, but the kart is only as safe as the driver! Fun karts are not designed for stunt riding, such as jumping over earth mounds, ramps or other elevations, and they’re not designed for doing doughnuts or other stunts. That type of riding can cause loss of control, resulting in rollovers, flipping or other accidental situations that can cause injury or death. Under certain circumstances, any vehicle can be flipped or rolled-over and a fun kart must be controlled in speed and riding to prevent those possibilities.

Fun kart riders should always wear a properly fitted helmet, goggles and protective clothing, including shoes. When youngsters are riding a kart, adults must always provide supervision.
Read the owner’s manual, learn to drive a kart properly, maintain it and follow all instructions and warning for lots of safe fun.

END

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Kart Marketing Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 101
Wheaton, IL 60189 USA
Telephone: 630-653-7368
Fax: 630-653-2637
Email: karting@msn.com

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