How to stay safe on an ATV this spring

Spring is here, almost, and with it comes the beginning of ATV season. 

With COVID-19 spurring purchases of ATVs so people can enjoy outdoor activities safely, Steve Levesque, who runs Outdoor Adventures ATV in South River, has some safety tips for those new to the sport. 

“With COVID, everybody has an ATV, it seems. You can’t buy one at a  dealership … they’re just not available,” said Levesque, who provides  guided ATV tours of western Algonquin with his partner, Lisa Levesque. 

“Be prepared for the unexpected,” he said. “What we normally tell people is first and foremost, plan a route. Make sure you know where  you’re heading — it’s very crucial to let your family and friends know  where you’re going as well.” 

Utilizing the buddy system is also important; plan to go with another person on an ATV. 

“On our tours, we insist on a pre-ride inspection. Make sure you have  the proper helmet, the attire, full-length pants, boots/shoes;  basically, dress for the occasion.” 

If you’re heading out into the wilderness, bring a first aid kit:  water, snacks, a lighter, matches and, if you have a pre-existing  medical condition, extra medication. 

Another important safety factor, especially if you’re riding alone,  is to have some form of communication, like a cellphone, Levesque said. 

“ … Up in this area there’s quite a few areas that don’t have  service. For a few hundred dollars, you can invest in a satellite communication device,” he said, adding that he and his partner use a  device called SPOT Gen3. 

SPOT Gen3 is a satellite GPS messenger that allows you to preprogram messages to family members, friends or emergency services. 

“If you are in trouble, you just hit one of the preprogrammed  messages and it will go to whoever you decided to preprogram in your  device — that’s really important.” 

Some of the risks associated with ATVs are tipping, not wearing  proper equipment and inexperienced riders with high-powered machines. 

“Most of our machines are 450 and 500 CCs (cubic centimetres) and  that’s for safety reasons, because people don’t have experience,” said  Levesque. “With a 1,000 CC, you’re going up the hill and if you happen  to hit full throttle, that machine is going to come up and over top of  you.” 

For Levesque, the best part of ATVing is exploring the wilderness in the region and quality family time. 

“We ride the western side of Algonquin Park, mostly Crown land trails  — the scenery is phenomenal and wildlife is abundant,” he said. 

“Quality family time — that’s the biggest key for us, we draw families together and it’s amazing.” 

- Sarah Cooke, Local Journalism Initiative, Parry Sound North Star. LJI is funded by the Government of Ontario.