MCH Trauma Centre raises concerns about expected surge in serious ATV-related injuries

Montreal, May 7, 2026 — Now that spring is well underway, the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) Trauma Centre is sounding an alarm to the public about the dangers of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for children and teens. Recent data from the MCH Trauma Centre portrayed a 50 per cent increase in ATV-related injuries in 2025 compared to the annual average of the previous decade.

Patients seek our expertise from assorted regions including Northern Quebec, Estrie, the Laurentides, Lanaudière and the Greater Montreal region. Many children and teens sustained severe and in some cases life-altering traumas. As of April 2026, we have already treated three patients who sustained serious injuries while riding ATVs.

“Historically, ATV-related injuries were seen as an issue limited to rural or northern communities,” says Debbie Friedman, Trauma and Canadian Hospital Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) Director at the MCH.

“But our data, using information from the CHIRPP, demonstrates that children and teens in Greater Montreal and surrounding regions are also sustaining serious injuries. ATVs are simply not toys — and they are not safe to be driven by children and young teens. There are specific laws in place related to ATV use that need to be followed and we want to ensure that the public is aware.”

The numbers tell the story

• In 2025, about 40 per cent of ATV-related injuries seen at the MCH Trauma Centre were serious and required hospitalization.
• 70 per cent of cases came from Greater Montreal and surrounding regions.
• 30 per cent of cases came from Northern Quebec.
• 76 per cent of cases involved teens aged 12-18 years old. However, we treated children as young as two years of age.
• 60 per cent of patients treated at the MCH Trauma Centre were not wearing a helmet at the time of the injury. Of those hospitalized, none were wearing helmets.

The type of injuries frequently seen include: traumatic brain injuries, spinal trauma, chest, abdominal and pelvic trauma, facial/dental trauma and limb fractures.

Expert recommendations align

In a February 2025 position statement, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) strongly advises that children under 16 should not operate or ride as passengers on off-road vehicles such as ATVs, citing their lack of physical and cognitive maturity. The CPS also stresses that helmets and protective gear can reduce — but not prevent — serious injury or death, and calls for tighter legislation and stronger public education to reduce preventable harm.

“We echo the CPS position completely,” says Liane Fransblow, Injury Prevention Coordinator at the

MCH Trauma Centre. “ATVs are powerful, heavy machines that require adult strength and judgment to handle safely. Children and teens are simply not ready for that responsibility. We see the preventable devastating consequences all too often.”

Quebec law requires helmets, gloves and protective gear, and sets 16 as the minimum age for ATV use. While Quebec’s regulatory framework provides clear minimum standards for ATV use on public roads and trails, awareness and application of these rules seems to remain inconsistent in practice.

In addition, provincial off-road vehicle legislation does not govern ATV use on private land, where many family and recreational activities take place. This creates a gap in protection at the very moment when youth exposure to these vehicles is increasing.

ATV prevention tips

• Given the risk of serious injury, keep children and adolescents under 16 off ATVs, including for recreational use on private land.
• Ensure helmets are properly fitted and worn at all times.
• Follow Quebec training requirements for older teens operating ATVs, recognizing that legal compliance does not eliminate the risk of serious injury.
• Never drive impaired, it heightens the risk of injury.

“We must change the perception that these vehicles are harmless fun for children,” adds Debbie Friedman, Associate Professor at McGill University. “The risks of serious injury are just too high.”

Media contact
Christine Bouthillier
Communications Coordinator, Montreal Children’s Hospital
[email protected]
514-922-5696