Five ATV deaths renew mandatory safety course debate

A high number of ATV fatalities in Manitoba has longtime riders wondering what measures can be taken to prevent deaths, including the possibility of mandatory safety courses.

So far this year, five riders have been killed in the province. The latest tragedy took place Thursday when a 59-year-old woman died in South Indian Lake, located about 770 kilometres north of Winnipeg. RCMP arrived to find her lying on the road, while her ATV was in the ditch.

Dave Lee, the president of the All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Manitoba, said one death is too many.

“Someone has lost their loved one,” he said. “It’s devastating for a family. The first question I always ask is: ‘Why did this happen?

The number of people killed in ATV incidents in Manitoba reached a 10-year-high in 2025, when 11 people lost their lives. RCMP data shows there have been 68 ATV-related fatalities since 2017.

Lee, a longtime rider, said the association strongly encourages riders to take a safety course, but they’re not mandatory.

He said whether or not a change is needed is a question for the government, but he compared an ATV to a race car, saying the operation of the latter involves mandatory equipment, risk-management controls and licensing and “maybe it’s something we have to look at.”

“But first of all, let’s ask these questions: Where are these accidents happening? Are they happening on designated trails, are they happening in communities?” he asked. “We don’t want to lose anybody, from any type of accident, especially an (ATV) accident, but we have to focus on where they’re happening and why they’re happening.”

Lee said once those questions are answered, officials will have a better idea as to where to focus resources, but stressed new and old riders alike should reach out to the organization, which treats safety as a priority and encourages use of ATVs mostly on designated trails.

“We have the tools and connections needed for you to operate these machines correctly, safely and responsibly,” he said. “Don’t take your personal safety for granted.”

In a social media post, Carol Joy Wood was described as a “devoted wife, a proud mother, a loving grandmother, a great-grandmother.” The post said Wood had remained in South Indian Lake as an essential worker with the community under a mandatory evacuation order due to nearby wildfires.

The first ATV-related fatality this year was on May 3, when a 46-year-old man from the Rural Municipality of Tache died after he lost control of his ATV and it landed on top of him. The second was on May 14, in the RM of Alexander when a 36-year-old Sagkeeng First Nation man died after his ATV rolled over. In both cases, the riders weren’t wearing helmets.

On May 30, a 39-year-old Winnipeg man was killed after he and a 50-year-old man were involved in an ATV collision on Lake St. Martin First Nation. On June 25, a 19-year-old from the RM of Brokenhead was killed when his ATV was hit by a gravel truck.

Information from Manitoba Public Insurance shows 598 ATV-related injuries have been recorded since 2015. That number is likely low as MPI noted owners are not required to have collision coverage — unlike passenger vehicle owners — which means many incidents likely go unreported.

RCMP Cpl. Melanie Roussel said helmets and proper gear “do save lives.”

“If your machine is equipped with a seatbelt, wear it. If you’re riding an ATV or a quad, wear a helmet,” said Roussel.

She said RCMP are trying to address ATV safety through enforcement and education. She also stressed that riders need to stay within their skill level and must know their limits.

‘These machines can be very powerful and if you’re riding somebody else’s machine that you’re not familiar with, it could be dangerous.”

She also said trail riders should carry a cellphone, tell people where they are going and when they’ll be back.

“Simple tips like that could save a life,” she said.

Matt Wiebe, the minister responsible for MPI, said in a statement the government works with the ATV association, municiplaities and Métis and First Nations communities on off-road safety initiatives,

“Existing programs and partnerships support rider education and public awareness through safety training and awareness initiatives,” he said. “We will continue to collaborate with trusted partners and community members to help keep riders safe.”

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca