The Ontario Provincial Police are reminding off-road vehicle riders that wearing a helmet and avoiding alcohol or drug use are critical to preventing fatalities on Ontario trails.
In a statement issued ahead of ATV Safety Week, the OPP said helmet use and sober riding remain key factors in reducing serious injuries and deaths involving all-terrain vehicles.
“Half of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riders killed in Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) jurisdiction were not wearing a helmet,” the OPP said. “It’s a statistic that has seen little change in more than a decade and one that leaves no doubt about the risks of not protecting your head and your livelihood on the trails.”
The OPP also warned that impaired driving continues to be a major factor in off-road fatalities.
“Alcohol/drug use is a cause or contributing factor in almost half of OPP-investigated off-road vehicle fatalities,” the statement said.
Police said risky behaviour on trails not only endangers riders but also affects passengers and families left behind.
“Sadly, when trail riders engage in these behaviours, it is their loved ones who pay the price. In some cases, it also costs the lives of innocent passengers,” the OPP said.
Working in partnership with the Ontario Federation of All-terrain Vehicles Clubs, the OPP is encouraging riders to adopt safer habits and avoid normalizing unsafe practices such as speeding, impaired riding and not wearing protective gear.
“This is particularly important advice for parents/guardians of young people taking up off-roading for the first time,” the statement said, noting youth training programs are available through Ontario’s ATV Rider Training Program.
The OPP said it remains committed to safety across Ontario’s extensive trail and road network, which includes more than 99,000 kilometres of waterways and trails and over 130,000 kilometres of roadway.
According to police, 41 passengers were among 240 people killed in OPP-investigated off-road vehicle incidents over the past 10-year period from 2016 to 2025.
Ontario ATV Safety Week runs from June 1 to 7, 2026.
