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Riding Mowers Are Not
Children's Play Things

Careless Mowing Habits Could Lead Children Down A Dangerous Path

Each spring, as the flowers blossom and the grass begins to grow, millions of people follow the annual path to lawn and garden care. Friendly neighbors haul out their mowers, lawn tractors, edgers, tillers, and chipper/shredders because they know this equipment provides the best and easiest route to beautifying their landscape. But, along the way, some also haul out old, unsafe operating habits, and this is where they unknowingly turn down a dangerous path ... toward the possibility of accidents, especially involving children.

The tendency to take kids for a ride on the mower is a careless old habit. It was probably learned by people who remember going for rides on lawn tractors when they were young, so they think that it's okay to ride with their kids too. But, with today's information explosion, this generation should not just be older, it should be wiser ... it shouldn't pass old, unsafe habits on to a younger generation. Riding with a child on a mower was an unsafe practice a generation ago, just as it is today.

Riding mowers are designed for just that -- mowing while riding. Riding mowers provide many safety features for the operator, but they are not built for passengers. Simply stated, children should not be anywhere near the operation of lawnmowers or anywhere near the mowing area. This goes for all types of outdoor power equipment.

Furthermore, sometimes the media unintentionally adds to the problem -- occasionally a newspaper will picture someone riding happily on a mower with a child on their lap. It may be a cute picture -- but it sends the wrong message about mowing safely, and, hopefully, wise consumers will realize this.

Lawnmower racing is another careless habit with a direct route down a dangerous path. Consumers should remember, riding mowers are hard-working utilitarian machines with sharp cutting blades designed to do yard work. They were not designed for racing -- even if the cutting deck is removed. Avoid the urge to treat them as such. A racing mindset could influence youngsters (as well as adults) to operate a riding mower carelessly which could lead to accidents.

Remember to "think safety with power in your hands", and, when operating any type of outdoor power equipment, practice these important do's and don'ts.

• Do read the manufacturers operator's manual before operating.
• Do keep small children out of the mowing area, and preferably indoors under adult supervision.
• Do be alert and turn the mower off if children enter the area.
• Do, before operating in reverse, look behind and down for small children.
• Don't carry children. Riding mowers are designed for one operator only.
• Don't allow children to operate a riding mower.
• Do use extra care when approaching corners, shrubs, and trees.
• Do handle fuel carefully and avoid spilling when you're filling.
• Do wear the proper clothing -- long slacks and sturdy shoes.
• Don't drive a riding mower like a race car -- it's a mower, not a racer.

Remember, carelessness is the leading cause of accidents and that's why the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute urges homeowners always to "think safety" when operating any type of outdoor power equipment.