Manitoba RCMP report every year they respond to numerous calls about snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and other off road vehicles. They remind you when operating off road vehicles on public land such as ditches, roads or groomed snowmobile trails the vehicle must be registered. You must be at least 14 years old to operate the vehicle without supervision, must not operate on a roadway or shoulder, may only cross a roadway or shoulder at an intersection or designated off road vehicle crossing such as a snowmobile trail crossing while holding a valid driver’s licence and must not carry open liquor or cannabis.

Sergeant Mark Hume with Westman Traffic Services notes this past year 50 percent of fatal ORV collisions involved alcohol and or drugs.  He pointed out in 60 percent of the collisions reported to police the operator was found to be driving too fast and either lost control or struck an object and of those killed one in three were not wearing a helmet adding all of these deaths could have been prevented.