By Barry Cox B efore you report an off highway vehicle driving on public roads, check your legislation. It may have changed. Governments across North America are relaxing rules and permitting various types of access to public roads for off highway vehicles. These machines are called ATVs (all-terrain vehicle) and UTVs (utility-terrain vehicle) for the most part. ATVs resemble a motor- cycle riding style with the exception of having four wheels versus two. UTVs, also called side by sides, offer car like seating inside a roll cage. Out go the handle bars and in comes a steering wheel, brake and gas pedals and even fill size windshields. UTVs are also offered in four and six seat versions. For as long as these machines have been sold, there have been riders that completely ignore the laws related to driving on public roads. It has proven to be a difficult law to enforce and governments started looking for ways to change it. They were compelled to face the reality that ATVs on public roads has proven to be a deadly combination. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) produced a com- prehensive study a few years ago that was shocking. The study was focused on US data from 2007 to 2011 because it was the most com- prehensive available. During that time over 1700 people were killed with over 65% of the accidents happening on public or private roads. The fatalities were predominantly the driver. The cause was almost always related to the design of these machines being unsuitable for high speeds on paved roads. Through consultation with organized off highway vehicle associa- tions and industry manufacturers governments have learned that a restricted but sanctioned use of public roadways is a better approach than an outright ban. In the US there are now 33 states that allow some sort of authorized public roadway use for ATVs and UTVs. In Canada, Ontario has implemented new rules granting more use of public roads for riders.
Washington State has been interesting to watch as they roll out their strategy. The state established the framework for licensing, manda- tory equipment and which machines are eligible. Their website is very informative:http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/watv.html. They left the implementation of the new legislation up to the discretion of the municipal units. This offers each community a way to find the right balance. In Colorado, the state government openly exclaimed this is a revenue opportunity for the state ranging from licensing fee to tourism poten- tial. They pointed out this type of regulation will promote guided tours and recreational use because riders no longer have to trailer their machines between sections of trail which are not connected. The trend is already impacting manufacturers. Existing and new entries to the market are now installing equipment like signal lights, side mirrors and horns as basic items. In addition, established outdoor brands previously not associated with UTVs are developing a product line because they see a brighter future for sales. One example is Cub Cadet who traditionally focused on lawn mowers in the US, Australia and Canada. They entered the UTV market with a workhorse model a few years ago. Now they are launching a new line of UTV’s that are targeted at recreational riders and come equipped with everything needed to meet the new standards. See it at www.cubcadet.com. While the sport will always be plagued by renegade riders, their numbers will hopefully dwindle as the demographics and riding styles of organized users on the trails grow.
22
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS • JUNE 2016
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker