ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Death, taxes and the outdoor life are three things you can count on in Newfoundland and Labrador.
To celebrate the outdoor life, residents take to all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles to explore vast corners of the province.
A number of agencies are working to make sure they do it safely.
The RCMP and RNC has teamed up with Safety NL, the City of St. John’s and Rovers Search and Rescue for a public-education event highlighting the safe operation of all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
The event was held Sunday morning at Rotary Sunshine Park Chalet in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s.
Being prepared is what Safety NL was preaching to members of the Mary Queen of Peace Cub Pack B during an outdoor demonstration.
Jim Stoyles and Darren Dunphy, representing Safety NL, outlined safety practices for ATVs, Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) — commonly called side-by-sides in this province — and snowmobiles.
“Something as simple as wearing a helmet has to be taught to people who are operating these machines because a lot of them ignore that rule,’’ Dunphy told the Cubs.
“So what do you tell your grandfather if he tells you to go ahead and ride that machine without a helmet? I would say hang on for a second, I am going to get my helmet,’’ he said.
Safety NL has been delivering safety programs for more than 60 years. With ATV, UTV and snowmobile use on the increase, the need for good, professional safety training has never been so important.
Safety NL wants you to be as safe as you can, and it’s is committed to reducing the number of injuries and fatalities.
If you experience difficulties while exploring the outdoors, emergency responders such as The Rovers, RCMP and RNC are available to help.
“The key to outdoor safety and survival is having the correct equipment and most people will carry those on an ATV or snowmobile,’’ Rick Smith of the Rovers Search and Rescue said Sunday.
“Some carry them in a backpack, some on their snowmobile … but everyone should carry these things with them when heading out for the day,’’ he added.
Smith has his way; he developed a coffee can full of items to help survive in the great outdoors. Smith said it is like an American Express card — don’t leave home without it, as it contains practically everything you will need. The kit weighs 1.1 pounds.
“I don’t think people pay enough attention to this. They always say, ‘this will never happen to me,’ but we see it every day,’’ Trevor Hancock of the Rovers Search and Rescue said.
“We saw it just recently on the west coast. A group of snowmobilers were out and got caught in the weather. That is why you should always be prepared,’’ he added.
Reduce fatalities
There are fatalities annually in this province involving off-road vehicles. The RCMP NL hopes that education will help decrease those incidents.
“This is an ongoing community policing problem for rural Newfoundland,’’ S/Sgt David Ossinger of traffic services said.
“As the traffic safety officer for the province’s RCMP, I have a shared mutual interest in public safety,’’ he added.
Accident scenes involving ATV or snowmobiles are regular calls for the RCMP and many other first-responder groups, Ossinger said.
“There are a host of responsibilities under the law for people who operate any of these vehicles. There are practices they could be doing to keep themselves safe out there.”
Ossinger said he hopes people absorb the good information from the diverse group participating in the presentation.
Topics of discussion touched on safe operating practices, loading and unloading of off-road vehicles onto a vehicle or trailer, ice safety, provincial legislation and proper supervision of young riders.
Presenters said it is important to know and follow the safe practices guidelines when operating your ATV or snowmobile.
Riders should always wear a helmet, ensure they drive in safe places and not on highways, public roads or private land and operators must be 16 years or older to operate an adult-size machine.
“The province has done a nice job of getting all the information into one place. Between the link and the brochures it produces, it does a nice job of explaining all the rules,’’ Ossinger said.
With the increasing use of ATVs as a recreational vehicle, amendments to the existing legislation were necessary to improve safety around that use, particularly with respect to the safety of children. On May 17, 2005, Service NL introduced amendments to ATV legislation.
At that time, government also undertook the development of a safety awareness campaign, the features of which are contained on this site.
Developed in consultation and co-operation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, this campaign is aimed at both adults and youth.
Information on ATV Safety
The following is a list of rules and regulations regarding the operation of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) through Newfoundland and Labrador:
• A person must be 16 to operate an adult size ATV (more than 90cc).
• A person aged 14 or 15 can operate an ATV up to and including 90cc, if accompanied and supervised by a person 19 years of age or older.
• A person under 14 years of age is not permitted to operate any size ATV.
• The legislation has always required operators to wear a helmet. If the ATV has no windshield, then the operator must wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles. (Exceptions are possible in the forestry, mining, fishing, construction or agricultural industries.)
• The legislation restricts where ATVs can be operated.
• Bogs and other environmentally sensitive areas are out of bounds except for the lawful transportation of an animal from the place where it was killed, and only under certain conditions (See the legislation for details).
• ATVs are not permitted on a highway except to cross from one side to another and the operator must have insurance to do so. This rule does not apply to private woods roads, resource woods roads and cottage development roads.
• Always wear a helmet
• Don’t drive along public roads and highways
• Never drink and drive an ATV
• Only carry passengers on ATVs designed for a second person
• Respect the environment
• You must be 16 years old to operate an adult size ATV
NOTE: For more information, go to https://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/drivers/atvsafety/index.html
