Effective December of 2016 the Traffic Safety Act was amended to include ‘An Act to Enhance Safety for Off Highway Vehicles’, Bill 36. What does this mean? The passing of this bill will make wearing a helmet a requirement for off highway vehicle (OHV) use.
Did you know?
- On average, approximately 19 people are killed while operating OHVs in Alberta each year.
- 40% of those deaths are a result of head injuries.
- Nearly 80% of fatalities involved riders and drivers not wearing helmets.
- There are nearly 6,000 OHV-related emergency room visits in Alberta annually.
- In 2015, more than 1,000 children under the age of 16 were injured while riding OHVs.
Not sure what qualifies as an OHV?
he Alberta Ministry of Transportation defines an OHV as any motorized mode of transportation built for cross-country travel. This includes:
- Land,
- Water,
- Snow and ice,
- Marsh/swamp land,
- And other natural terrain.
From bill to law…
The passing of the bill means that it is expected the law will come into effect sometime in May of 2017. Here is a quick snapshot of what that will look like.
- Helmets would be required for anyone driving, operating, riding in or on, or being towed by, an OHV on public land.
- Use on one’s own property, or on private property with permission of the owner, is exempt from the helmet requirement.
- Farming and ranching operations continue to be exempt under the existing OH&S code.
- First Nations and Métis Settlement lands are exempt.
- Regulations will be developed to determine other exemptions, including those for OHVs equipped with rollover protection and seatbelts.
The statistics make it clear that there is a need and the passing of Bill 36 means that Albertans recognize and understand the dangers of operating OHVs without proper protection. Don’t wait for the law to make it official, play it safe and wear a helmet when getting outside with off highway vehicles year round.
Want to know more? Review these sources and resources.
Alberta Transportation – Off Highway Vehicle Helmets
Legislative Assembly of Alberta – Bill 36
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