On April 27, 2007 the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Highway Safety Division will take a big step toward improving off-highway vehicle safety on PEI. In partnership with the Canada Safety Council and the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Association, the department has trained and certified five Islanders to offer instructional courses to off-highway vehicle users.
Providing these courses goes hand in hand with the province’s new regulations for the use of machines such as all terrain vehicles (ATV’s). Those regulations state that youth under the age of fourteen are not permitted to operate such vehicles. Youth between the ages of fourteen and eighteen must now complete this new course before they are permitted to ride. The courses are also open to anyone else who feels some instruction would be helpful.
“The responsible operation of off-highway vehicles in this province is of the upmost importance to our department,” said Hon. Gail Shea, Provincial Minister of Transportation and Public Works. “The safety of Islanders on and off-road is our main concern and I believe this new initiative addresses issues raised in the past when it comes to the use of these vehicles.”
The new regulations also describe mandatory equipment that must be used when operating off-highway vehicles.
The courses will be offered across the province in the near future by the newly certified instructors. Those instructors will set the fees for their courses individually.
Anyone looking for information on the courses can call the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Highway Safety Division, at 368-5214.