Off-highway Damage Costly

Owners of all-terrain vehicles are reminded that it is illegal in Nova Scotia to drive on highways, medians and adjacent road shoulders.

Area managers with the Department of Transportation and Public Works say shoulder damage is a costly problem that drains money away from regular pothole repair and gravel replacement on local roads.

"Replacing just one kilometre of shoulder gravel takes about 150 tonnes of material," said Paul Stone, area manager, Middleton. "Add to that the labour and hauling costs, and it's not cheap. It's money we could be putting into our regular maintenance program."

Stone says the department has co-operated with snowmobile and ATV organizations by providing temporary direction signs and assistance when planning local events or rallies.

Troy Webb, area manager, Amherst, says all-terrain vehicle drivers sometimes use road shoulders as shortcuts to get from one trail to another. That causes gravel on the shoulders to slide away, which can be hazardous for vehicles that pull over off the main highway.

"This can pose serious problems for motorists and pedestrians who use the gravel shoulder," says Webb. "It can be particularly troublesome to postal workers who routinely travel along the shoulder as they make deliveries. I think public education will help to some extent. People need to know that it's illegal to use these vehicles on highways, medians and shoulders."

In other sensitive areas, the ruts left by all-terrain vehicles degrade the environment to a great degree, especially in the spring, when the ground is wet. Not only is this harmful to vegetation, but it causes the silt to drain into watercourses, creating problems for fish habitat.

It's also important to note that permission is required from a landowner or occupant before travelling on certain kinds of property, including: sidewalks, walkways, school grounds, utility service lanes, cultivated land, private forest land, watercourses, campgrounds, golf courses, parks, playgrounds, beaches, sand dunes or any private property.

Legislation defines an off-highway vehicle as "a snow vehicle, three-wheel or four-wheel all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, mini bike, four-wheel-drive or low-tire-pressure vehicle, dune buggy, or class of vehicle designated as an off-highway vehicle by regulation."

Apart from facing a fine, a driver caught operating an all- terrain vehicle on a road shoulder could also have the vehicle seized by the arresting officer. The owner is also liable for the costs of impounding and storing the vehicle.

More information on using off-highway vehicles safely is available on the provincial government Web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/rmv/registration/roadveh.stm. The Off- highways Vehicle Act can be viewed at www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/.