OHV Safety Check Is An Important Summer Task

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With the summer riding season underway, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds Off-Highway Vehicle users to check their gear and brush up on safety and rules.

"Now is a good time to check your riding gear, tools and the survival items you routinely carry on a ride.   Make sure everything is in working order, and replace batteries and missing items," said Ray Paige, FWP’s Trails Program specialist.   “This is also a good time to make sure you have the proper decals and registration required for the type of riding that you’re planning for the remainder of the summer and into fall.”

To assist OHV riders, FWP has produced a handy pocket-sized brochure summarizing the OHV laws; required fees, decals and registration; safety tips; grant programs for OHV trails; and OHV contacts in Montana. The brochure is available at all FWP and County Treasurers’ offices.

"The brochure is a good reference for anyone involved in off-road riding and a tool parents can use in helping their child develop good habits and outdoor ethics," Paige said.

FWP also offers an All-Terrain Vehicle safety home-study course at no charge. The driver safety training is a well-rounded orientation to ATV use in Montana, including assessing risks and how to reduce them, basic riding skills, and how to handle different terrains and unexpected situations.

A print copy of the home-study training manual and course materials can be ordered by calling FWP at 406-444-7317, by emailing rpaige@state.mt.us or by ordering on the Internet at www.fwp.state.mt.us on the Education page under Off-Highway Vehicles.