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Saskatchewan is seeing a spike in ATV-related deaths, which has a safety advocate worried.
So far this year, eight fatal ATV crashes have been reported, more than double the number reported in recent years.
Read more:
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- Boy under 12 dead after ATV rollover Tuesday on Fishing Lake First Nation
- Man dead, two injured after ATV and truck collide on Pelican Lake First Nation: RCMP
Of those eight deaths, three involved minors, including two very young children.
For John Meed, general manager of the Saskatchewan All Terrain Vehicle Association, the numbers are more than just statistics – they’re a call to action.
“There’s been a significant increase, and that’s of a concern to us,” Meed said in an interview with 650 CKOM.
“We’ve tried our very best to educate people about how to safely operate these machines. They’re a great recreational item – a lot of fun if they’re operated properly. But if they’re not operated properly, or operated by somebody who doesn’t have the dexterity or the physical strength to properly operate them… then, you know, things can happen.”
The association, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting safe ATV use through education and advocacy, has long pushed for stronger safety rules and better rider training.
Meed noted that half of this year’s fatalities occurred on First Nations, where federal jurisdiction means Saskatchewan’s ATV laws, including helmet requirements, don’t automatically apply.
“It’s really up to the band to take steps to ensure the kids and the riders are doing the right thing,” Meed explained.
Saskatchewan laws allows youths aged 12 to 17 to operate an ATV if they’ve completed an approved safety course or are supervised by someone who has held a driver’s license for at least a year.
Meed said that leaves gaps, which can be dangerous.
“We think that’s a little weak. You can have a 12-year-old on an adult-size ATV being supervised by a 17-year-old who had their license for a year. That’s technically legal, and we just don’t think that’s good enough.”
The association has long advocated for mandatory training.
“There’s mandatory training for snowmobiles, for boats, for many other recreational items. We think it should also be in place for ATVs. We think training is important,” Meed said.
But training alone isn’t enough. Meed said riders also need to remember the basics every time they get on an ATV.
“Alcohol and ATVs are just basically a no-no,” Meed emphasized.
“Wear your helmet, even if you’re riding a side-by-side. I think there’s still a number of people who think they don’t have to in a side-by-side, because it has a roll bar and seatbelt, but your head can come in contact with the roll bar. It’s not that far away. So they’re still required by law.”
ATVs are unlike other vehicles, Meed explained. They’re designed for rough terrain including obstacles and hills, which is why they need to be handled with extra care.
Meed emphasized that experience matters when it comes to operating off-road machines.
“The more experience you gain, the more you know, the better off you’re going to be,” he said.
–with files from 650 CKOM’s Marija Robinson
