Safety tips for off-road vehicles

From 2015 to 2020, driving an off-road vehicle (ORV) was the second leading cause of death associated with sports and recreational activities in Québec, after drowning (INSPQ, 2024).

To make ORV use safe, it's important to adopt responsible and safe behaviours.

Before heading out on a trail, we advise you to be extra alert to ensure your safety and that of your passengers.

Make sure your ORV is in good operating condition. A visual and mechanical inspection will confirm this, especially if it’s a used vehicle.

Having a used vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic will give you a clear picture of its condition and, at the same time, peace of mind. Here are a few things to check before buying a used ORV:

• the vehicle’s main function to date: riding trails, work, etc.
• the vehicle’s year;
• number of hours and kilometres driven;
• maintenance performed on the vehicle;
• any accidents involving the vehicle
• repairs to be made, if any;
• any other relevant information.

Remember to check the Registre des droits personnels et réels mobiliers (register of personal and movable real rights) to make sure there are no debts or encumbrances on the used vehicle you want to buy.

Before setting out on a hike, find out about trail conditions and the ice conditions of the bodies of water along the way.

To find out about trail conditions, consult:

• The Fédération québécoise des clubs quads interactive map;
• The Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec interactive map (in French only).

In winter, make sure you avoid unmarked bodies of water.

ORV clubs have the expertise to check whether the ice is thick enough to allow ORV traffic. On a waterway, the red markers installed by the clubs indicate that the ice thickness has been checked.

Trust your club’s experts and respect the signs, riding only on marked waterways. This way, you’ll avoid venturing onto a surface that’s too thin and liable to give way as you pass.

Always stay within the trail markers so as not to deviate from the trajectory secured by the club.

At night, in areas where traffic is authorized, be careful on waterways and stay on marked trails.

To find out more about how to behave, watch the video Sécurité sur les plans d’eau (in French only).

Think ahead and prepare a basic survival kit to take with you on your ORV trips.

This kit can include the following items

• a set of basic tools and an extra wrench;
• spark plugs, drive belt and antifreeze;
• a first-aid kit and manual;
• a sharp penknife, saw or axe;
• a nylon rope for towing (approx. 10 metres);
• a map and GPS;
• waterproof matches, flashlight and whistle;
• a lightweight aluminum-treated blanket.

In remote areas, cellular networks may be inaccessible. In this case, certain precautions can be crucial to your safety:

• have technological tracking equipment such as a satellite positioning system (GPS) or distress beacons at your disposal;
• inform the people in charge of the areas you will be visiting, or someone close to you, of the exact location of your destination and inform them of your expected return date, with instructions to contact emergency services (911) in the event you don’t return on time;
• make sure you have the necessary equipment to deal with an injured person (first-aid kit) and a means of communicating with emergency services (two-way radio, satellite phone, etc.).

Remember that in the event of an accident, distance has a major influence on the time it takes for help to arrive and evacuate people, as well as on the time it takes to get you to a hospital.