Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is reporting that more and more young people are ending up in emergency departments following a crash with an off-road vehicle (ORV).
In the last five years, 12 people in Manitoba have been killed in ORV collisions, and 220 people have been injured. Dr. Lynne Warda is a leading pediatric emergency physician in Winnipeg. She says between 2011 and 2024, 633 children visited the Children's Hospital Emergency Department at Health Sciences Centre, with injuries sustained on an ORV. In the last four years, the number of annual injuries has been between 80 and 100. Of those cases, 32 per cent were admitted to the hospital, emphasizing the severity of the injuries.
According to the data, in Manitoba, male youths between the ages of 14 and 16 are suffering severe injuries on the weekends of June, July, and August. June happens to be Off-Road Vehicle Safety Month.
"Children's Hospital is the only trauma centre for children in Manitoba, so patients with serious injuries are sent to us from all over the province," says Dr. Warda. "ORV injuries are some of the most serious injuries we see. The speed and size of the vehicle lead to high-impact collisions and rollovers, so the riders often have multiple injuries. This might include a head injury, broken bones, and lacerations, some needing surgery or admission to the hospital. These injuries can lead to long-term disability when the head or spine is injured."
MPI, in partnership with Dr. Warda, has examined data around pediatric trauma cases, which shows a sharp rise in those linked to ORV use in Manitoba. The information shows that a lack of adult supervision and a lack of helmet use are large contributing factors to the injuries being seen in hospitals.
Under Manitoba law, youth 14 to 16 years of age must be supervised and accompanied by a parent or person at least 18 years old. If a youth is 15 and a half years of age and holds a valid Learner Stage driver's license, they can operate an ORV unsupervised, but still are not permitted to travel or cross roadways, shoulders, or sidewalks.
"ORVs are powerful machines, not toys," says Terris Baran, Manager of Road Safety Programming at Safety Services Manitoba (SSM). "Children under 16 often lack the size, strength, and judgment to operate them safely. That's why we urge families to keep young riders off adult-sized ATVs and instead focus on supervised use of age-appropriate models, certified training, and proper safety gear, especially helmets. Our goal is to protect young lives and prevent tragedies before they happen."
The information collected by MPI and Dr. Warda shows that in many of the cases when youth are injured on ORVs, parents could not identify where the youth had been riding or what exactly happened, emphasizing that parental supervision is key to keeping youth safe on ORVs.
On Wednesday, MPI, Safety Services Manitoba, Dr. Warda, and Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe came together to stress the importance of safe ORV operation. The event happened just two days after a crash near Treherne involving a youth and a utility task vehicle (UTV). According to the RCMP, the UTV made a sudden turn across the road and was struck by a semi-truck. The UTV driver was transported by STARS to the hospital in critical condition. The other youth was taken to the hospital by EMS in serious, but non-life-threatening condition. Their conditions have since been upgraded to stable. Neither youth was wearing a seat belt or a helmet.
Tara Seel is the Media and Public Relations Lead for MPI. She says in many collisions, young people are riding machines that are too big for them.
"These are big, powerful machines; they are not toys," she says. "We are seeing young people who do not have the strength or the knowledge, nor the ability to be able to manoeuvre these machines over obstacles and in ditches and going up inclines and things like that, they just don't have the strength to do it."
Seel reminds parents that to drive an ORV on a roadway or even to cross a roadway, the driver must be over 16 years of age and have a valid driver's license.
"There are no exceptions to that," she says. "We need younger kids who are legally permitted to be driving these machines, to stay in the field, in the ditches, to not cross roadways, certainly not drive on the roadways with other traffic."
MPI is offering the following safety tips for ORV riders of all ages:
- Manufacturers include age guidelines based on the size and power of each ORV. These guidelines should always be followed to help prevent injury. A child should never operate a full-size ORV meant for adults.
- Young riders should always have hands-on adult supervision. Parents and caregivers play a big role by modelling safe riding and making sure children are trained. Enrolling children in certified safety training courses, such as those offered by Safety Services Manitoba, is a great way to teach them about handling, speed control, and terrain awareness.
- A DOT-approved helmet is required for all riders and passengers. Other recommended gear includes eye protection, gloves, long sleeves and pants, over-the-ankle boots, and chest and shoulder protection.
- Farm work should always match the rider's age and the machine's capabilities. Youth-sized ORVs are not built for towing or hauling.
- Do not carry passengers on single-rider ORVs.
- Avoid paved roads unless absolutely necessary and legal.
- Ride in daylight, on familiar terrain, and at safe speeds.
- Always slow down on hills, corners, and rough patches. Most rollovers happen when going too fast on this type of terrain.
- Be cautious with unpredictable terrain like mud, loose gravel, or steep slopes, as they can quickly lead to loss of control.
- Stick to designated trails or areas where permission has been granted.
- Avoid environmentally sensitive spots like wetlands or wildlife zones.