ATV-related deaths in Ontario more than twice as high from this time last year

Ontario Provincial Police say so far this year, there have been nine fatalities related to ATV use in the province, compared to four last year.

It has been a deadly start to the off-roading season in Ontario.

Ontario Provincial Police say so far this year, there have been nine fatalities related to all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accidents in the province.

"Compared to this time last year, that's more than double. There had been four across Ontario by this point in 2023,” said OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson in an interview.

"Here in eastern Ontario, we have seen two fatalities. So two people die as a result of injuries sustained when they were operating an ATV."

It’s a concerning trend for Shari Black, executive director of the Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs, who says it could be due, in part, to the growing interest in the activity.

"More people are buying the machines, more people are using them,” Black said in an interview.

“Maybe they bought them through Covid and some of the novelty has worn off, they’re really comfortable, but they’re not applying the practical, commonsense skills."