ROV Basic DriverCourse
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles, sometimes referred to as side-by-sides, UTVs, or ROVs, handle differently than other vehicles, such as ATVs, motorcycles, and cars. Learning how to drive your ROV is an important first step for you and your passengers.
The ROV Basic DriverCourse is a hands-on class, for licensed drivers aged 16 and older, conducted by a certified ROV DriverCoach. Our DriverCoaches will help you develop the basic skills to operate your ROV in an off-road environment and teach you driving strategies to make safe and responsible driving decisions. The ROV Basic DriverCourse offers students approximately three hours of driving time on a closed range and post-exercise discussions to expand on the driving skills and strategies you’ve learned. At select locations, students will also be able to experience open trail exercises to practice the skills and knowledge they have learned in a real off-road environment.
The Closed Range Exercises include:
- Understanding and identifying an ROV’s primary parts and controls
- Starting out and stopping smoothly
- Low speed steering
- Turning and backing up
- Braking, both normal and quick stops
- Swerving
At the end of the course, each student will be given a copy of the Tips Guide for the ROV Driver and discuss topics such as using a spotter, driving on different terrains, and vehicle recovery methods. The Tips Guide for the ROV Driver is theirs to keep and is a great resource for practicing the skills they have learned throughout the DriverCourse.
Course Requirements
Before you enroll in an ROV Basic DriverCourse, please note all students must be at least 16 years of age, hold a valid driver’s license, and have completed the ROHVA E-Course prior to their arrival.
ADDITIONAL COURSES
Open Trail Experience
The Open Trail Experience applies skills acquired in the Closed Range Exercise of the ROV Basic DriverCourse to “real-world” terrain under the guidance of a certified ROHVA DriverCoach. Students will experience driving on rocky and sandy terrain, fording water, and clearing obstacles such as hills, mud, and rocks. Call your nearest provider to see if the Open Trail Experience is available in your area.
ROHVA E-Course
The E-Course is a free, multimedia, interactive online safety course available 24/7. The E-Course reinforces:
- Risk factors
- Safe driving strategies
- Where to find more information about your vehicle
This two-hour E-Course can help develop safe driving habits, but it is not a “learn to drive” course. It is intended to improve awareness about ROVs and inspire a safety-minded approach to off-road recreation. Users can save their progress and stop the E-Course at any time and pick up later where they left off. At the end of the course you have the option to print a Certificate of Completion.
Completing the ROHVA E-Course is prerequisite for students taking the ROV Basic DriverCourse.