All-terrain vehicle safety

Children under 16 years of age should not operate an ATV.

Issue

All-terrain vehicles are motorized vehicles that require adult skills and judgment. Canadian children continue to be injured and killed while riding ATVs.

Problem

Child use of motorized vehicles.  Children and youth are at a special risk for ATV-related injuries and death as they lack the necessary knowledge, physical development, cognitive and motor skills to safety operate these vehicles.

Solution

Children under 16 should not use ATVs Currently in Canada, ATV laws vary by jurisdiction and by location of use. 

• ATV provincial legislation chart (pdf)

Call to action

Enact ATV laws banning children under the age of 16 years from operating any type of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) regardless of its size or the power of its engine. Laws should also require use of appropriate helmets and mandatory safety training for all those operating ATVs.

For more information on preventing ATV-related injuries please see:

• Canadian Paediatric Society's Position Statement preventing injuries from all-terrain vehicles (pdf)
• B.C. MANAGES OFF-ROAD VEHICLES – news release - Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
• ‘Too Young to Drive…Too Young to Ride’ ATV safety campaign summary report;  Kidsafe Connection, Stollery Children’s Hospital.

Provincial legislation: Injury prevention reduction

Nova Scotia experiences 50 per cent reduction in ATV-related injury post-legislation.
The government of Nova Scotia amended their Off-highway Vehicles (OHV) Act to restrict youth under the age of 14 years from operating ATVs. The year after the law came into effect, IWK Health Centre in Halifax saw a 50 per cent reduction in ATV-related injuries for youth under the age of 14 years while ATV-related injuries to youth 14-15 years has not changed significantly suggesting that the law should be expanded to protect children up to age 16.

PEI and New Brunswick have also amended their respective Off-road Vehicles (ORV) Act to restrict children under the age of 14 years from operating ATVs.

Published: Sat, May 29, 2010