With the arrival of the spring season and warmer weather, many people are eager to take out their ATV’s. Before you go for a ride, however, it is crucial to ensure that you know how to safely operate your ATV.
Laura Allen
Kicker
As the weather warms, people are retiring their snowmobiles for the season and bringing out their ATVs and side-by-side vehicles.
Newfoundland offers many trails and landscapes to explore. But before you adventure off, ensuring you know how to safely operate your vehicle is key.
Over the past few years, the provincial government has implemented new laws for ATV safety.
On May 19, 2022, the provincial government made it mandatory to wear helmets on all off-road vehicles, with fines ranging from $100 to $2,500 if you are caught without a helmet.
On Oct. 15, 2024, the province made operator safety training mandatory for certain riders, including users under the age of 16, anybody registering an off-road vehicle with the Motor Registration Division for the first time or anybody who has had their off-road vehicle registration suspended or cancelled because of a conviction under the Off-Road Vehicles Act and Regulations, as a condition of reinstatement.
The government can only do so much, and the rest is up to riders themselves to make sure they are being safe. Parents of young riders need to ensure that they and their children understand the power of these machines.
On average, an ATV weighs 315 kilograms, and a side-by-side can weigh up to 900 kilograms. Due to the “fun” nature of these vehicles, the skill and knowledge of how to properly operate them can often be overlooked. This oversight can turn tragic and, in some cases, fatal.
“The biggest misconception of ATV safety is people thinking that it’s not going to happen to them.” – Rick Noseworthy
Rick Noseworthy, president of the Newfoundland T’Railway Council, is adamant about ATV safety. He stresses the importance of parents practising and teaching their children safety when it comes to off-road vehicles. He has a term that he calls “genetic blindness”.
“That’s when parents think that their child is not going to misbehave on an ATV when they’re out of their sight,” Noseworthy said.
“They’ll take the child with them under parental supervision and, of course, that child is acting great, doing everything they’re supposed to do,” Noseworthy said. “The genetic blindness cuts in; the parent says, ‘All the trouble is everybody else’s child except mine.'”
Noseworthy stresses how important parental supervision is when it comes to young riders operating off-road vehicles.
Julie Penney of Clarenville often uses off-road vehicles. Safe operation is extremely important to her.
“Our side-by-side can seat four people, and each passenger has to wear a (Department of Transportation)-approved helmet and seatbelt at all times,” Penney said.
Before each ride, Penney ensures that her vehicle is in good condition and that emergency supplies are in working order.
“We sometimes ride for short periods, but mostly rides two hours or longer are very common,” Penney said. “Before each ride, the suspension, tires, emergency kits and fire extinguishers are confirmed to be operational.”
Penney plans every ride in advance, and communication is key for her.
“Our side-by-side has a built in GPS, and we plan our trip and stops on the trail way beforehand,” Penney said. “We carry cellphones and chargers . . . and we have a large circle of friends and family who also ride. We tell them our plans and ETA for each destination.”
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