ATV industry players unite on safer riding for youth; Ontario Quad Safety Council launches new online training program
2024年4月24日 - 3:14AM
In an effort to reduce injuries and fatalities amongst young ATV
riders, a group of industry players joined forces to launch online
rider safety training for youth today. Ready to RideON is an
Ontario Quad Safety Council program, developed in partnership with
the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs (OFATV), Yamaha
Motor Canada, and Bombardier Recreational Products.
“ATV riding is not just a fun activity for young
riders who get a taste of independence and freedom on the trails,
but it's a necessity for some youth who rely on the machines for
farm work or transportation, particularly in rural areas,” said
Shari Black, Executive Director of the OFATV. “We know that helping
these young riders build confidence and skills is key to mitigating
accidents across the province. As a group of industry leaders, we
felt compelled to build programming that would do just that.”
ATV riding is increasing in popularity in
Ontario, particularly as weather patterns change and trails become
accessible for longer periods throughout the year. Currently, youth
aged 12 to 15 are allowed to ride on trails in Ontario and no rider
training or rider safety education is required. ATV’s, which can
weigh more than 600 pounds and travel at more than 100 kilometres
per hour, pose a serious risk to inexperienced riders and the
people around them.
SickKids reported 181 cases of serious and/or
fatal ATV-related injuries, including six deaths, in 2018. Children
aged 10 to 14 represented nearly half (45.3%) of all cases. The
SickKids study also revealed that the likelihood of injury and
death on ATVs is lower in provinces where safety training is
legislated for youth, demonstrating the importance of programs like
Ready to RideON.
Of course, vigilance around ATV use should not
be limited to youth. According to reports from the Ontario
Provincial Police, in Ontario alone, 151 people died and more than
1,500 suffered ATV or Side-by-Side injuries between 2016 and 2022.
Loss of control is the number one cause of accidents.
''Driving positive change is key for us at BRP
and we strongly believe that it starts with education through real
actions,” adds Elsa Vilarinho, Director, Global Brand Strategy,
Can-Am at BRP. “We are pleased to partner with the OFATV as part of
our Responsible Rider program and share a training accessible for
youth to promote safe riding.''
Added Delaney Brogan, Marketing Coordinator at
Yamaha Motors Canada, another Ready to RideON program partner: “An
educational program like this will unlock opportunities not just
for young riders, but for all newcomers to the sport. Getting to
watch it all come together has been a pleasure and we at Yamaha
can’t wait to see the impact this program will make.”
Ready to RideON is a $40, two-hour online
program designed for 12 to 15-year-olds in Ontario. It provides a
solid foundation in all aspects of ATV operation from parts and
functions of a machine to riding responsibly on Ontario’s trails.
For more information visit ofatv.org/ready-to-rideon.
About the Ontario Quad Safety
Council
The Ontario Quad Safety Council was developed by
the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicles (OFATV) to promote
ATV and side-by-side rider safety across Ontario. The Council’s
Ready to RideON program is a joint initiative with the OFATV,
Yamaha Motor Canada, and Bombardier Recreational Products.
The OFATV is a not-for-profit, volunteer-driven
association that serves as the voice of Ontario’s ATV community,
promoting safe, sustainable and connected ATV trail networks across
Ontario. For more information visit ofatv.org
Media inquiries
Please contact Shari Black, Executive Director,
shari.black@quadon.ca
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62323a24-76fe-4db6-bbad-aec9deaf6f03