Have you ever wondered if ATVs are legal on public roads in Canada? Look no further, because we have what you need on all fronts. If you own an ATV or plan to visit Canada in the summer to enjoy the country`s natural beauty while riding an ATV, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that govern its use. No child under the age of 8 is allowed as a passenger on an ATV. And the driver must make sure that he never has more passengers than seats available – if you ride with friends sitting on each other`s laps, it is very reckless and illegal. The best thing about this legislation is that it should (will) improve our sport in general. It will increase sales at equipment dealers. Many of us who have postponed an SxS due to the legal issues surrounding us are now more likely to buy one. It will also help those of us who can`t or won`t drive in the bush enjoy our virtually endless trail networks. Drivers in our neighbouring provinces and states will also be much more interested in spending their tourism money in Ontario now that it is becoming legal. However, there are some risks associated with operating an ATV when laws are not followed and safety precautions are ignored.
Smart Ride Safe Ride outlines the legal requirements for ATVs and other types of off-road vehicles and promotes safe and responsible driving practices. This is just a guide. For more information on the legal requirements for the use of ATVs, please refer to the Off-Road Vehicle Act (ORVG) and the Road Traffic Act (HTG) under e-laws.gov.on.ca. However, there are several things they all have in common. On private property, you can more or less do whatever you want. However, on the road, an ATV must be legally registered and insured by a private liability insurance policy with coverage of $500,000 or more, and the driver must have a driver`s license and helmet and be 16 years of age or older to be considered road-legal. An ATV is a type of off-road vehicle (ORV) with four wheels, steering handlebars and a seat that is spanned by the driver and is designed only for a driver and not for a passenger. A highway can span a roadway, road or avenue and includes all the land that is within the road right-of-way, such as hard shoulders and ditches. This is the most important news that ATV/UTV riders in Ontario have received since the beginning of the sport! The provincial government finally (Stand 1. July 2015) legalized all types of ATVs: This applies to all ATVs, UTVs and side-by-side vehicles that were previously illegal on all public roads in Ontario.
Read the Ontario government`s news release here and my fall 2014 article here. There are several rules for riding an ATV prescribed by the ministry. We`ll cover some of the specific rules of the road in the next section. Drivers must observe and understand these rules for a number of reasons. First of all, all these rules were created to ensure the safety of ATV riders and their passengers. This is the main reason to follow them. Secondly, non-compliance with traffic rules can cost you legally and financially. If you do not respect the law and have an accident, you can be held liable. You can also be fined for any violation. The provincial government has officially approved all types of ATVs (effective July 1, 2015). This includes all 2-ups, UTVs and side-by-sides that were previously prohibited on public roads in Canada.
If you`ve never ridden an ATV before or are just checking that you`re following the proper regulations, this article can help you with your research. We`ve included all the information you need about the legal requirements for riding an ATV, all the physical requirements for the vehicle, and what the law says about where it`s okay to drive. I suspect that many small towns and tourist areas will now look at this issue again, because many of us want to be able to enter the cities, or at least get close enough, so that we can supply, eat, spend the night in local shelters and, in general, support the local economy of areas with trail networks. And even those who don`t. Farmers, for example, have a lot of such equipment and have to reach their fields, etc. using public roads to get there. Many of us have been dealing with this problem for years, forcing us to risk a $110 fine just to get from one starting point to another, as roads are the only way to connect where 1-up ATVs in particular were already completely legal, as well as 2-up snowmobiles in areas that allow driving on the road. Yes. The law requires all vehicles, including ORVs, to have insurance and proof of registration to legally drive in the province of Ontario. In Canada, road-approved cars are those that are specifically authorized to operate on roads, roads and highways. Since there is no national legislation allowing ATVs on Canadian roads, ATVs must be regulated at a lower administrative level, and there are differences between provinces and municipalities. The only thing that needs to be clarified is that this designation simply changes what the definition of an ATV is to include UTV and SxS equipment.
It does NOT replace any municipal by-laws that may exist. If you could previously drive an ATV on the emergency lane of the road near you, you can now drive an SxS with one or more passengers in the same way and in accordance with the legal design of the vehicle, provided you comply with the regulations related above.
