The Public Safety Division of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke announces the re-launch of an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety Campaign developed to address the numerous complaints and instances of misuse of ATVs, side-by-sides (also known as Utility Task Vehicles or UTVs) and other off-road vehicles in the community.
“This problem is identified every year when the warm weather hits, how common it is to see ATVs and other off-road vehicles on the road,” said Public Safety Portfolio Lead Ryan Montour. “We have been monitoring this and, in an effort to be proactive, the Council of Chiefs have given the mandate to do something about it before somebody gets seriously injured, or worse.”
The goals of the campaign are to reduce the number of ATV and UTV accidents in the community, reduce the number of complaints reported to the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Peacekeepers, and increase awareness of the rules and regulations concerning the safe and responsible use of ATVs and UTVs.
“We have a responsibility to the community to make sure that everyone is aware of A) what the rules are, B) how to stay safe, and C) where and how to safely enjoy your off-road vehicle,” stated Public Safety Commissioner Lloyd Phillips. “While we can’t stop individuals from purchasing these vehicles, we can educate them on how to keep themselves and everyone around them safe.” “We look forward to engaging the community as we roll out this campaign,” said Peacekeeper Public Relations Officer Kyle Zachary. “Education and awareness are part of Community Policing, and we have a number of strategies that we hope will reach a large segment of our population.”
