Safety NL is once again urging the provincial government to introduce hands-on training for off-road vehicle operators following a tragic side-by-side crash near Gander earlier this week.
A young rider lost control of the vehicle on the Newfoundland T’Railway on Monday, resulting in a fatal crash. A passenger, also under 16, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Currently, recreational off-road vehicle operators in the province are not required to complete practical training. Safety NL President Sean Kelly argues that while no training program can eliminate all risks, it could help reduce the number of serious incidents.
Kelly is calling on the government to launch a pilot program aimed at identifying key safety concerns and developing a plan to introduce mandatory training.
He also highlighted the high number of young riders using off-road vehicles, citing statistics from the Canadian Pediatric Society. While youth make up just 12 to 15 per cent of ATV riders in Canada, they account for 27 to 33 per cent of fatalities.
Between 2012 and 2022, ATV-related injuries led to the hospitalization of 6,452 children and teens nationwide, with 230 fatalities. More than half of those who died were between the ages of 15 and 19. Additionally, 37 children under the age of nine lost their lives in ATV accidents, 10 of whom were driving at the time.
Safety NL continues to push for stronger regulations, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to protect young riders and reduce the risk of further tragedies.