Mini buggy designs offer more safety features than ATV's or dirt bikes. However even the best built mini buggy will not guarantee your safety.  Always remember, when it comes to your mini buggy, keep things simple safe and fun for you and your kids.

Extreme mini buggy accidents can happen to anyone no matter what your skill level. Although most mini buggy crashes result in scratched paint and a bruised ego you should always be ready for the  occasional extreme crash.

A great thing about the mini buggy is it has such a low number of serious injuries when compared to more expensive vehicles like side by sides, ATVs and dirt bikes.  The reasons are simple and easy to see when you look at the differences  between an ATV and mini buggy. The same is true when you compare a dirt bike with a mini buggy.  No seatbelts means when you crash, It really is you making the impact into a tree or rock wall, and the injuries are very predictable.  When we compare the mini buggy to a side by side it gets a little foggy as to why serious and sometimes fatal  crashes with Rhinos and RZRs are reported in higher numbers.

If we look at the capabilities of a side by side and a typical mini buggy we start to see where the problems begin.  The typical side by side is a powerful 4x4 machine that can run on more extreme trails and climb much bigger and longer hills. The center of gravity is also higher than the mini buggy which may also be a factor.  When a buggy can enter more dangerous trails your risk will increase.

The bottom line is the more extreme mini buggy driving you do the greater your risk for major injuries.  Clearly if you exceed the abilities of your buggies capabilities you will eventually crash and feel the wonderful pain of stupidity.

We all know that accidents are just part of the sport.  Many organized motor sport groups help keep there people safe by providing the tools and training needed to avoid the more serious crashes.  Taking friends back to camp with a broken buggy is a lot more fun than taking them to a hospital with broken bones. 

The mini buggy motor sport community is no different than any other motor sport community.  In the mini buggy world we have the Mini Buggy Riding Association (MBRA) to watch out for us. Helping independent buggy owners and members organize and promote safe mini buggy events for friends and family.  The MBRA was the first in the mini buggy world to get very serious about promoting safety and developing a set of guidelines for mini buggy owners and the events they organize.

Most parents with kids involved in motorsports we're always concerned about the risk of injuries to our kids.  Safety was one reason our family choose to buy mini buggies instead of ATV's.   There are many ways to stay safe and still have fun. In fact most responsible riders have more fun when they use the proper safety equipment.

The basics start with your buggy inspection before you ride.  It should always be part of your routine.  Lets face it, our kids are the last ones that worry about safety so parents need to instill good riding habits to reduce the risk of injury.

The Basics (Buggy Pre-Trip Inspection)

1. Inspect seat belts for damage and make sure it locks and releases properly.

2. Inspect your fuel lines and tank for leaks. 

3. Check and set tires for proper inflation depending on trail terrain.

4. Inspect throttle cable, make sure it moves freely.

5. Make sure all lights are working.

6. Inspect break pads and lines.

7. Check that your roller chain is lubricated adjusted properly.

A basic inspection of your buggy is your first step, now you need to look at the safety equipment you will need on the rider and on the buggy.  First is the Helmet, just because the buggy has a roll cage does not mean you can ride without one.  Your helmet of choice should be DOT approved, anything less will not do the job of protecting your brain bucket from impact.

The next items are the safety nets or arm restraints. These items offer an excellent level of protection for hand, arm, shoulder and collarbone injury in the event of a rollover.  It is not necessary to use both but doing so will only add to your level of safety. The purpose of these devices is to protect the rider from his/her own natural instinct to extend their arm out during a rollover which can cause major injuries.  These devices are a little pricey from some suppliers but the MBRA has worked out a deal with a manufacture for special pricing for all MBRA members.

The next items you need to consider is type of gloves and boots.  Do not use soft gloves that have no grip, a firm grip on the wheel is always needed when riding buggies on trails.  A glove that slides easy can cause the rider to lose control.  Open shoes like sandals of flip flops are a big mistake.  Boots are always the best choice but any closed shoe or sneaker will do fine.

Other items that you might like to carry on your buggy are:

1. A small tool box for repairs on the trails.

2. Mounting a very small fire extinguisher might be a good idea.

3. Small cooler for snacks and water.

4. large and small zip ties

5. Break fluid and oil

6. large jar of slime and air pump

7. Loading strap or tow rope.

8. GPS unit / Cell phone with GPS will also work in many areas.

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