Concerning incidents involving young kids on ATVs

Provincial police say they witnessed some concerning incidents involving young children on ATVs during recent ATV patrols in northeastern Ontario.

Officers were conducting proactive patrols on roads and trails in the Almaguin Highlands area July 24 and 25.  

Several tickets were issued, including two incidents involving toddler passengers.

"Some of the concerns noted included an ATV with a 2.5-year-old passenger wearing only a foam bicycle helmet and a side-by-side with a two-year-old in a car seat sitting loose not occupying a seat belt position," OPP said in a news release Monday.

"Further, three ATVs were found to have unlicensed youth operators and four ATVs were towed due to not having insurance."

Rules for ATV drivers and passengers differ depending if the vehicle is being driven on or off-road.

For driving on a paved road, ATV passengers must be at least eight years old, while drivers must be at least 16 and have a valid license.

Off-road vehicle drivers must be at least 12 years old, "except on land occupied by the vehicle owner or under the close supervision of an adult."

"There are no restrictions for passengers when off-road," the Ministry of Transportation said on its website.

Wearing an approved motorcycle helmet with a chinstrap is required for all drivers and passengers regardless if the ATV is being driven on or off-road.

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"You might think that because an ATV is not a car it means that you don’t need to have any special permit or licence. That’s not the case," personal injury lawyers Diamond & Diamond said on their website.

"There are special rules that are designated for drivers of ATVs in Ontario. Like the laws for those driving cars, the driver of the ATV is responsible for their passengers and they will be the one cited for any infraction."

The four most-common infractions that officers issued provincial offence notices for during the operation were:

• Drive with a passenger under the age of eight  
• Permit unlicensed person to drive motor vehicle  
• Drive a non-passenger ATV with a passenger  
• Driver with a passenger not wearing helmet  

Fines range from $200 to $260.

"ATV operators are encouraged to review the Off-Road Vehicles Act and the Highway Traffic Act and be aware of what is required to operate an ATV on the roadway," OPP said.

"Always drive sober, wear your helmet and operate in a safe manner."

Last year, 10 people, including four children, were killed in ATV crashes in northeastern Ontario between July and October.

• Father, son from Timmins killed in northern Ontario ATV crash
• Mother, child killed in ATV crash east of Parry Sound, 9-year-old survives
• 3rd fatal ATV crash in the northeast kills another child
• Teen dies in ATV rollover on Wahanpitae First Nation near Sudbury

Since April, five people in the north have died as a result of an ATV crash.

• Sault Ste. Marie man, 34, killed in single ATV crash
• Burlington man, 64, killed in single ATV crash in Massey, Ont.
• London man, 62. dead in single ATV crash in Sables-Spanish Rivers
• One dead in single ATV crash in northern Ontario
• Powassan resident, 27, killed in ATV crash in northern Ontario