With warmer weather and summer approaching, more people will be on the roads and enjoying the great outdoors. RCMP NL reminds the public to stay safe and use the proper safety equipment while operating motor vehicles, boats and all-terrain vehicles (ATV).
When driving a motor vehicle anywhere in this province, it is mandatory that all occupants wear a seat belt or be placed in the proper child seat restraint system. Wearing a seat belt properly dramatically increases a person's chances of remaining within the vehicle in the event of a collision and is proven to greatly reduce the risk of injury or death.
When boating, there are a number of pieces of required safety equipment as well as recommended safety equipment, depending on the boat type and length. Having a life jacket or personal floatation device (PFD) readily available for everyone on board is mandatory, while wearing such safety equipment is highly recommended. In the event you find yourself in the water, locating that equipment may be difficult or impossible. Not having a PFD or lifejacket can have deadly consequences. Please keep in mind that children under the age of 16 years are limited in their operation of a boat based on the horsepower of the outboard motor. For more information on this, please refer to the legislation as set out by Transport Canada. A child under the age of 16 is not permitted to operate a personal water craft such as a Jet Ski, Seadoo or Wave Runner and all operators of any type of motorized boat must have a pleasure craft operator's card.
When riding an ATV all riders must wear a Department of Transportation (DOT) approved helmet or when in a side-by-side wear a seat belt. It is recommended, however, to wear both a seat belt and a helmet in a side-by-side. Wearing a helmet that is not fastened will most likely not offer protection in the event of a collision. Often times, a helmet that is not fastened will come off during a collision and expose the rider to serious injury or death.
No matter what mode of transportation you choose heading into the summer, RCMP NL reminds motorists to please drive safely and drive sober.
For more information on seat belt requirements, please refer to the Highway Traffic Act of NL:
https://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/h03.htm#178_
For more information on boating safety and legislation please visit: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-menu-1362.htm
For more information on ATV safety visit the Canadian Quad Council on Facebook or online: