Rider Responsibility

Rider Responsibility is a program developed by the NBFSC, as the Province’s snowmobile Trail Manager, in conjunction with the New Brunswick Department of Public Safety. The program corresponds with amended legislation in the Off Road Vehicle Act (ORVA). The program improves the security, viability and long term sustainability of New Brunswick’s winter tourism – snowmobiling.

Rider Responsibility is simply the recognition that snowmobile riders and operators have the greatest opportunity (and responsibility) to control the outcome of their activities through responsible riding practices.

The ORVA legislation now recognizes that riders, passengers, and operators carry the greatest responsibility for their personal safety. The new legislation recognizes the following key points:

  • Riding a snowmobile comes with inherent risks that can only be controlled by the riders or operators of the snowmobile.
  • Riders who choose to make poor decisions in their riding habits have and will inevitably cause injuries, losses and or death to themselves or other riders or passengers.
  • The ongoing concerns of who is responsible for rider’s injuries and fatalities have led to ongoing concerns of exposure to liability.
  • The financial implications for the volunteers of the province’s snowmobile Trail Manager and volunteer snowmobile clubs was threatening the continuing viability of winter trails and the Province’s fourth tourism season.

RESPONSIBLE RIDER FACTS:

  • The New Brunswick Off- Road Vehicle Act (ORVA) was amended in 2010 and is supported by new regulations filed on February 12th 2010 to subsection 7.5(2) of the ORVA (Act).
  • Removing the volunteer Federation, snowmobile clubs and volunteers from liability under the ORVA does not remove gross negligence, where negligence can be proven.
  • The NBFSC, member clubs and volunteers do their utmost to improve snowmobile trails by regularly maintaining trails with trail signage and trail grooming.
  • The new legislative amendment will not remove protection for the thousands of private landowners who provide permission to the NBFSC’s volunteers for winter trails only.

RESPONSIBLE RIDING PRACTICES:

  • All riders, operators and passengers should become aware of, acknowledge and practice the NBFSC’s adopted International snowmobile safety program, “Safe Riders, You make Snowmobiling Safe”. See www.NBFSC.com or www.snowmobile.org
  • All riders, operators and passengers should become aware of, acknowledge and practice the NBFSC’s adopted International snowmobile alcohol program, “Zero Alcohol, The Smart Choice”. See www.NBFSC.com or www.snowiasa.org
  • All riders, operators and passengers should become aware of, acknowledge and practice the NBFSC’s adopted Canadian environmental program, “Snowmobilers care about our Environment, Keeping Nature Beautiful”. See www.NBFSC.com or www.ccso-ccom.ca
  • All riders, operators and passengers should become aware of, acknowledge and practice the NBFSC’s adopted International riding program, “Go Snowmobiling, Take a Friend”. See www.NBFSC.com or www.GoSnowmobiling.org