Ministry says Stay Safe on Forest Roads

Friday, July 10, 2009 10:22 AM

Kamloops, B.C. - The Forests and Range Ministry is urging off-roaders and A-T-V users to play it safe on forest service roads.

The ministry says following the speed limits and making sure licence and insurance requirements are met will help cut down on the potential for injuries while people are out on forestry roads.

Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell says forestry roads are still active.

"Forest Service roads are both a workplace and a path to recreation, and the rules of the road are in place to help everyone, from off-road vehicle users to logging truck drivers, get home safely."

The ministry says motor vehicle operators on Forest Service roads must have a valid driver's licence for the class of vehicle they are driving, including Class 5 licences for all-terrain vehicles and Class 6 licences for
motorcycles. All operators must also carry a minimum of $200,000 third- party liability insurance, available through any insurance agent.

Those breaking Forest Service road regulations are subject to fines and violation tickets that can be issued by police, Ministry of Forest and Range compliance and enforcement staff and conservation officers.

The fine for not having proper insurance is $345.

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Posted on Friday, July 10, 2009 10:22 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Fordluv on July 10 2009 12:22 PM

Don't you get this 200 thousand dollar insurance as long as you have a motor vehicle insured from ICBC or is this something different?

Posted by: whineo on July 10 2009 12:52 PM

Most people don't buy it as it is very very expensive for a rec vehicle like ATV's

Posted by: cheeta on July 10 2009 12:56 PM

Remember that insurance doesn't save your life.
My experience though - is that it is not the recreational vehicles that cause accidents. I have traveled the back roads extensively and the closest calls I have experienced has been those who travel those roads for work (loggers, truck drivers etc). The closest call we had was meeting a dump truck - he was going so fast he was pretty much out of control on the corner he met us on. I still don't know how he missed our camper. We are never in that big of hurry

Posted by: cougars fan on July 10 2009 2:44 PM

cheeta,

When a close call like that happens, you can call into the Ministry of Forests office, or to Worksafe BC to report it.
(or maybe even to Pat Bell??)

With the increasing emphasis on safety these days, it cant hurt to try and make the bad drivers accountable.

Only two vehicles saw the near miss, and you can be sure the dumptruck driver isnt going to report it...

Posted by: foxtrapper on July 10 2009 8:41 PM

"The ministry says following the speed limits and making sure licence and insurance requirements are met will help cut down on the potential for injuries-- "

Could some one explain how license and insurance cuts down on 'potential' injuries?? It's gotta be a liberal came up with that crap - just like gun control.

Posted by: grizzly mom on July 11 2009 8:49 AM

You can also report incidents to the BC Forest Safety Council (250-562-3215 or toll free 877-324-1212). They also have on their website a registry for those additional plates you see on forestry vehicles that will identify the vehicle and company with a contact for the company safety officer.