The OPP Central Region Traffic Incident Management Enforcement team investigated a serious single off-road vehicle (ORV) collision on Gregory Lane.
The collision happened in the Haliburton County area on on June 19. Police say the driver and four passengers were not wearing helmets or seatbelts while a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) was being operated on the roadway. Two passengers were transported to hospital, one of which was subsequently airlifted to a Toronto-area trauma centre.
While the OPP investigators were at the scene, six additional ORV riders were charged with failing to wear a helmet while passing by the scene.
The June 19 collision is one of three serious Central Region collisions involving ORV’s where the persons were not wearing helmets.
The public is reminded to be safe and responsible when riding ORV’s:
- All riders must wear an approved helmet, securely fastened by chin strap, unless the ORV is being operated on private property owned by the ORV owner.
- All riders of UTVs must occupy a seating position with a seatbelt which must be worn properly.
- ORV’s must be registered, have a rear license plate and be insured unless being operated on private property owned by the ORV owner.
- ORVs travelling on roadways must travel in the same direction of traffic, on the shoulder (or as far right as possible when no shoulder) and with lights on.
- On roadways with posted speed limits of 50 km/h or less the maximum ORV speed is 20 km/h. On roadways with posted speed limits of more than 50 km/h the maximum ORV speed is 50 km/h.
- Impaired/drinking driving laws also pertain to the drivers of ORVs.
For more information on ATV/ORV safety and legal requirements, visit www.ontario.ca/atv.
