Saskatchewan ATV group calls for mandatory training after latest death

The Saskatchewan All Terrain Vehicle Association (SATVA) is once again calling on the province to regulate ATV usage.

A 28-year-old man died last Sunday when he was thrown from his ATV on the Big Island Lake Cree Territory. It is at least the eighth ATV-related death in Saskatchewan this year.

John Meed, general manager of SATVA, said there are more than 7,000 ATV sales in the province per year. He said changes can be made, starting with the government.

"Well, number one mandatory training," Meed said. "It's already present in the snowmobile sector and it's proved very successful. The second thing, we would like to see the government provide more support, become more involved and take this issue more seriously."

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If this feels like dj vu, it's because Meed last renewed their call for mandatory regulations in August. He believes the death toll will climb unless the government steps in.

According to Meed, there have been more than 1,000 hospital admissions due to ATV injuries since 2009.

"There's no registration requirements right now in Saskatchewan. We're the only province other than Newfoundland that doesn't register ATVs," he said. "All you need is a standard driver's licence, which of course offers no training and operating this vehicle. We wouldn't let people do that with a motorcycle, but we're letting them do that on an ATV."

Meed said act governing ATV usage as well as the fines listed in the acthave not been reviewed since 1989 when it was put in place.

Currently in Saskatchewan, ATV drivers between the ages of 12 and 15 have to take a course if they want to drive the vehicle,unless they are supervised by their parents.

In September, Deputy Premier Don McMorris said his government is not against mandatory training, but they need to look at all of the ramifications first.

See a map of Saskatchewan's ATV-related deaths here.