Drug and alcohol impairment, not wearing a helmet, and riding beyond your capabilities are three of the top causes for ATV injuries and fatalities.

That from John Meed, General Manager of the Saskatchewan All Terrian Vehicle Association. June is ATV Safety month, so Meed recommends that every ATV owner take an approved ATV safety course through the Canadian or Saskatchewan Safety Councils, especially 12–15-year-olds.

“If you’re from 12-years-old to 15, you can ride on public property as long as you’ve had either the approved ATV safety course through the Canadian Safety Council, or you’re supervised by someone who’s had a driver’s license for at least one year.”

However, those rules don’t apply on private property, which is often where accidents and injuries occur.

“Another issue is putting a child on an adult ATV. That can be a problem because they don’t have the strength or the dexterity to properly control the machine.”

Meed reminds drivers to always let someone know where you’re going, and what time you expect to be back.

“A lot of times you’re going to go into areas that don’t have great cell service, so if something should happen, somebody should know when you were supposed to be back and where abouts you were planning to go.”

He adds that two people should never operate a single-passenger vehicle, as it throws the balance off and could result in a rollover.