Ontario Mom Hopes Her Son's Death Will Change ATV Laws

On June 14th, nine-year-old Tyler Massey lost his life after an ATV crash. Tyler, an experienced rider who competed with the Oshawa Competition Club, was on a full-sized ATV with two other children when the crash happened.

Linda Russell has started a petition in her son Tyler's name, asking the provincial government to change Ontario's Off Road-Vehicle Act to ban children under the age of 14 from driving adult-sized ATVs. The current act states children under the age of 12 are allowed to operate off-road vehicles on land occupied by the vehicle owner or under adult supervision. Russell also wants children between 14 and 16 to require certification to drive ATVs on private property.

Kathleen Seymour-Fagan, the councilor of City of Kawartha Lakes Ward 13, says she is working with both Ms. Russell and MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Laurie Scott to protect children from the dangers of ATVs in the future.

"I do think we have to regulate this. [Children] are too young, they can't control these things", says Councilor Seymour-Fagan.

Jennifer Adcock, a family friend of Linda Russell, whose children have ridden with Tyler before, adds that the petition is not banning children from riding ATVs, but rather ones they are able to control.

"It's not to take away the fun," says Adcock. "It's to save lives. They're too heavy; they're too fast. They're just too big. Tyler wasn't just an average kid. He was a young, educated rider. It never should have happened."

Russell hopes this petition will at least make parents reconsider letting their children ride ATVs without supervision. "It's not just because I lost my son. Tyler lost his life. Hopefully this will make a difference". Mrs. Russell hopes to get at least 10,000 signatures. 

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