ATV users demand safer highway crossings

ATV users in Nova Scotia are calling for safer highway crossings to prevent a tragedy.

Many ATV trails in the province cut across roads and highways. The crossings arewell used, but illegal.

ATV clubs are lobbying the province to create safer and legal crossings.

Bill Estabrooks, the transportation minister, agreed there is a need, but said the province does not have the money.

"Hold your breath and gun it and hopefully nothing happens," is how Estabrooks described the current state of crossings.

"It's dangerous, it's extremely challenging to make sure we have safe places to cross and I look forward to continuing to work with ATV associations to provide a safe way to get across our highways."

Estabrooks said creating tunnels under the highways are one answer, but that the province cannot currently afford that option.

ATV activists said that was not a good enough reason to maintain the status quo.

"How much safety can you afford? How much are you jeopardizing by not having designated places or so-called crosswalks?" asked Don Bates, a retired RCMP officer and a director of the ATV Association of Nova Scotia.

Streets without crosswalks

He said many riders already make use of unofficial under-road crossings in the form of culverts.

When the water makes the culverts impassible, riders head back up the path through the woods to a gap in the highway guard rail and speed across the road.

"I think it's akin to having streets without crosswalks," said Bates.

It's only a matter of time before someone is killed, he said.

If the tunnels are too costly, he suggested making use of turnarounds on divided highways that are built so that emergency vehicles can switch directions.

Signs could warn drivers that ATV riders cross on that section of the highway.

"It would make sense to use those," Bates said.