At what age is your child old enought to own/drive an ATV on their own?

Question

My brother-in-law & his girlfriend bought my neice who is only 4 years old (will be 5 in December) a 4-wheeler & put her in the motor-cross races. It's a small one like a Yamaha Raptor 50 (I'm not sure if that is what it is but that's the size) I think 4 is way too yound to be driving anything motorized. It's way too unsafe. At 4 years old. your child is barely old enough to ride a tri-cycle. I was thinking of giving them our insurance (life insurance) guys business card as a suggestion ~ I mean if your going to endanger you childs life you might as well be prepared. Everyone in the family thinks that I'm over reacting & that it's OK for her to be racing around on this thing. So I've come here to you great people. Would you buy your 4 year old a 4 wheeler & let her ride in races on it?????

( I mean this thing goes like 30 miles per hour or something)

Answer 1

13 or 14

Answer 2

Bad idea.  Dangerous to anyone regardless of age.

Answer 3

If the child is serious about it and really into it then I would say age 10 to start learning on a small one with lots of protective gear and training. 4 is way too young in my opinion and I personaly would not allow it.  

Answer 4

I beleive your brother in law is breaking the law. You have to be at least 16 to drive one of those ATVs. So many people have died from ATV accidents.

Answer 5

Well, when I was 6 I got one for christmas and so did my little brother (he was four) and had just turned for ten days before christmas but we were always supervised and wore helmets and stuff. We have never raced except for against each other or our dad, mom, or our older brother.  

Answer 6

16. Allthogh, most pros start at 4.

Answer 7

my friend was 10....she flipped it over and broke her arm

we had a get together one time and there was a 6 year old and 10 year old driving one it desturbs me

i think you should be 16

i am 17 and never been on one so i really think 16

Answer 8

Well living in Georgia, ha, you have an ATV when you're like...7.

I had my first one when I was 8, but yeah, I wouldn't get my daughter one until she was 8. 4 years old is too young, though. I'd get her one from toys r' us. Lmfao.

Answer 9

An answer to your important question.

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Answer 10

I think that a 4-year-old is way too young to have anything motorized other than a Barbie Jeep.  She's also too young to race.  The child needs to be old enough to make rational decisions regarding safety.  If she falls off, does she know how to do it without hurting herself?  She may know and she may want to do this but I'm with you - she's way too young.