Off-roading can be risky, albeit it relies on a number of variables, such as the surrounding area, the tools being used, and your driving technique.

For instance, motocross is a sport that is both popular and risky for both professional and amateur riders. Off-road motorcycles are used in the activity, which also makes use of ramps, dirt tracks, and other apparatuses for producing spectacular stunts and leaps. Because riders frequently attempt flips, lengthy jumps, and other dangerous moves — and they do not often succeed — it's also a byword for life-threatening crashes and broken bones.

Not only professionals but amateurs suffer injuries. For those 19 years of age and younger, the number of motocross-related injuries per year from 2001 to 2004 was on average 23,800. The phenomenal riding of celebrity racer Travis Pastrana has earned him not only recognition for his injuries but also for the long list of life-threatening ones he has endured, including a spinal column dislocation (which is frequently deadly), concussions, and several broken bones.

Off-roading, whether you're riding a dirt bike or another vehicle, doesn't require you to be a daring to put your life in danger. Whether you're riding in an off-roading SUV, wearing simply a seatbelt or a helmet can make you feel insecure.

One of the major issues may be that some riders have been compelled to search out more secluded, and probably riskier, locations as a result of development and efforts to stop illegal off-roading. As a result, there is growing worry that drivers, particularly those operating dirt motorcycles or ATVs, will try to elude law enforcement in order to avoid receiving a ticket for riding in an illegal location.

Law enforcement officers mention a different myth: that off-road bikes and ATVs are toys best suited for kids or those with little to no experience. Though some are made exclusively for kids, even these may go at speeds of up to 30 mph (48 kph) and carry up to 300 lbs (136 kilograms).

In a 1987 survey, Canadian researchers discovered that around half of off-road accident casualties were under the age of 16. ATV riders under the age of 16 account for around 20% of all fatalities and 27% of all injuries today.

Off-roading can therefore be very risky. But millions of people engage in it as a potentially entertaining and secure activity. Let's look at some tips for being safe while off-roading on the following page.

Conclusion

The fact is that your SUV has four wheels and is intended for off-road travel does not necessarily make you the hero of a film starring James Bond. Drive cautiously and keep an eye out for any uneven or dangerous terrain. Although an SUV's high centre of gravity is ideal for off-road driving, it also increases the risk of rollovers.