Half of ATV deaths involve no helmet, high speeds or alcohol: OPP

Half of ATV riders killed in OPP-investigated crashes over the past decade weren’t wearing helmets. Speed and alcohol were also often factors.

Ontario Provincial Police are using ATV Safety Week, which kicked off Monday, to remind riders that a simple decision can mean the difference between life and death.

There is an ATV trail along Riverside Drive in Timmins, Ont., which connects riders to trails stretching into the city’s west end. However, officials with the Timmins ATV Club said many riders underestimate the challenges that come with off-road terrain.

Marc Lapalme, the club’s treasurer, said that ATV trails are not engineered roadways and riders who push their machines beyond their skill level can quickly find themselves in dangerous situations.

“It’s not meant to ride the same speed as a motorcycle or a car or even a snowmobile on a groomed trail,” said Lapalme.

OPP have reported that half of all-terrain vehicle riders killed within their jurisdiction were not wearing a helmet – a statistic that has remained largely unchanged over the past 10 years.

While neither the OPP nor Timmins Police Service had a representative available for comment on June 1, Lapalme said helmet use among members of the Timmins ATV Club is generally high.

“We are seeing, especially if it’s on trails or public roads, that a lot of times it’s a speed concern or high rates of speed,” said Lapalme.

OPP also reported that alcohol or drug use was a factor in nearly half of all fatal off-road vehicle collisions they investigated.

Between 2016 and 2025, OPP have investigated 240 off-road vehicle incidents resulting in 240 fatalities, including 41 passengers.

ATV Safety Week continues through June 7.