ATV accidents are on the rise in Ontario. Fatal incidents more than doubled this year compared to last year, according to spring data from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
In the midst of peak ATV season, this left us wondering…why?
“That’s the million dollar question,” says Shari Black, the executive director of the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs (OFATV).
Nothing has changed about the machines that would indicate that they’re becoming more deadly, she says. Rather, a lack of proper education and increased ridership are in tandem creating unsafe situations.
“The machines themselves are not dangerous, it’s how you ride them that can be,” says Black.
A number of factors at play are leading to these tragic results, says Black. Those involved in fatal incidents are often young men between 25 to 50 who are impaired, are speeding, or are on a machine that’s too large for their capability or size. As well, of the nine fatalities the OPP reported earlier this year, more than half were not wearing a helmet.
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“There’s this sense of being carefree and thinking, It’s not going to happen to me because I’m just going a kilometer from home, or I’m just going out to the field,” says Black. “But a lot of these incidents happen on private property.”
ATV education is key to reducing accidents
In tandem with this educational gap, the amount of riders in Ontario is increasing. There are 286,000 insured ATVs and side-by-sides, according to the OFATV. Factoring the uninsured riders, there are likely around 600,000 people riding ATVs in the province, says Black.
The severity of injuries from ATV incidents is increasing as well. Between 2022 and 2023, there was a 30 per cent rise in ATV-related responses by Ornge, Ontario’s air ambulance service. According to Ornge, these incidents are often serious injuries to the chest as a result of the machine rolling over.
“What happens, sadly, in many of these cases, people will hit a tree or take a corner fast and lose control,” says Black. “When you’re operating these machines in a dangerous way, they can flip over.”
Spreading knowledge about ATV safety and the machines themselves is the most important preventative measure we can take, says Black. Programs such as Ready to RideON help young riders get informed early on about the ins and outs of ATVs.
Older riders can also take part in ATV courses to refresh their knowledge. But it’s up to everyone to make sure that they and their loved ones are being safe on the machines, says Black. “When we’re out riding with friends and see someone get on a machine who’s been drinking, or who isn’t wearing a helmet, take the time to remind them,” she says. “It’s an act of love.”
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