By John Hayes / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pennsylvania has a rocky relationship with all-terrain vehicles.
Quads are popular among recreational riders and hunters, but they're not street
legal, too few commercial courses exist and many private landowners, state
foresters, park rangers and Game Commission officials complain that the
vehicles tear up turf, destroy habitat and frighten animals.
Better
education for ATV riders on how their wheels impact the environment and safer
ways to ride may be a step in the right direction.
Pennsylvania
ATV safety certificates can now be acquired online at
offroad-ed.com/pennsylvania. The Internet ATV safety class is state-approved
training that covers the same material as classroom instruction.
"Since
we do not offer instructor-led training for adults, the new online ATV safety
course gives Pennsylvania
adults an opportunity to receive quality ATV safety training," said Jason
Hall, recreation programs specialist for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry,
in a written statement.
"In
some cases, students can also submit their safety certificate to insurance
companies for a potential insurance break," he said.
The
safety course includes interactive animation and illustrations on maintaining,
operating and storing off-road vehicles, correct riding techniques, safe riding
of challenging terrain and anticipating unexpected conditions.
The
ATV safety course is mobile-device friendly--students can access the course on
smartphones, tablets, laptops and Internet TV. Pennsylvania students age 16 and older pay a
one-time fee due only when they pass the course. Students can print their own
temporary certificate.
More
miles of trails are open to snowmobilers, but safe operation remains a key
issue.
State-approved
snowmobile safety certification is now available online at
snowmobile-ed.com/pennsylvania.
Like
the ATV training, Pennsylvania's
new snowmobile safety course can be accessed on mobile devices and is available
to students age 16 and older. They pay for the course only when they pass it,
and they can print a temporary certificate.
