Should ATVs be allowed on public roads in NH?

June 22, 2016

New Hampshire, like most states, allows local counties and municipalities to decide whether parts of their public road systems should be opened to use by ATVs. In most cases, these are specific sections of roadways used as crossings, trail connectors, or to provide access from trails to food, lodging, and other amenities.

However, concerns have been raised over potential safety implications of using ATVs on paved roads. Design features that make the vehicles perform well on dirt trails or other off-road surfaces can increase chances of skidding or rolling over on paved roads, leading both national safety organizations and manufacturers to recommend against their use on public streets. Opponents also point to the high rate of fatalities - over 300 people per year - which are attributed to ATV use of public roads.

ATV clubs and other advocates counter that allowing ATV use of public roads helps extend trail systems and connect them to restaurants, hotels, and other local businesses, which increases tourism and boosts local economies. They point to challenges in enforcing a total ban on the use of public roads, and note that motorcycles encounter greater safety risks in terms of visibility and vulnerability in the case of an accident, but are still permitted to use public roads.

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Robert

June 23, 2016

# yes

June 23, 2016

As with any other group of people, there are morons and there are conscientious people in the atv community.
If operators in the moron group are not following the rules of the road, and basic safe atv operation, then accidents are going to happen.
For the most part, NH road use by ATV's is restricted to roads with speed limits of 35mph, or lower. There are a few exceptions, but if I remember correctly, no road use of roads posted above 40mph. At 30mph there is little risk of losing control unless there are issues with the atv, or the operator is screwing around!

With that said, road use by ATV's in northern NH is critical to the local economy. With the closing of most of the paper mills that supported the area, the only real source of revenue for the area is tourism. With the extensive trail system in Coos County, atv'ers from around the country are coming to use our trails, stay in our hotels/motels, eat in our restaurants, buy fuel at our gas stations, and a myriad of other associated businesses.
ATV rental companies have popped up around the county, tour guides, (like myself, to keep the tourists from getting lost) have found a niche, ATV dealers, repair companies, accessories sales, all are benefiting from the "all access" system. So YES, ATV road use should be allowed to continue in NH.

Should ATVs be allowed on public roads in NH?

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