The Ontario Provincial Police is reminding ATV riders to wear helmets and avoid alcohol or drugs before heading out on trails this summer.
As part of ATV Safety Week, the OPP and the Ontario Federation of All-terrain Vehicle Clubs are promoting safe riding practices across the province.
Police say half of ATV riders killed in OPP-patrolled areas were not wearing helmets, a statistic that has changed little over the past decade. Alcohol or drug use is also a cause or contributing factor in nearly half of off-road vehicle fatalities investigated by the OPP.
The OPP is encouraging riders to reject risky behaviours such as impaired driving, speeding and riding without proper safety equipment.
Parents and guardians are also being urged to enroll young riders in Ontario’s Youth ATV Rider Training Program to help them develop safe habits and skills before hitting the trails.
