Questions and Answers about the Wisconsin Vehicle Safety Enhancement Grant

What is "Ride Smart - Get Involved -Tell Others?"

• The Ride Smart - Get Involved -Tell Others program is all about maintaining and increasing ATV riding opportunities in Wisconsin. It's essentially a grant program with defined goals. These goals are the work objectives for a nonprofit organization that reports its progress to the department on a monthly basis.

What are the specific goals this program is trying to accomplish?

• On a statewide basis, a grant is awarded to a nonprofit organization. The nonprofit organization puts the grant funds to use and is charged with;
  • Promoting the public operation of ATVs safely and responsibly and in a way that it does not harm the environment, conflict with laws, rules or department policies
  • Providing support to ATV clubs
  • Collecting ATV operation data related to trail use to help establish needs and priorities
  • Increasing current and future ATV operator participation
  • Informing communities about appropriate ATV uses and the economic benefits that may be gained by bringing ATV users to the area
  • Developing, improving and maintaining relationships with the Department of Tourism, ATV dealers, manufacturers, snowmobile clubs, and other organizations that promote the recreational use of ATVs
  • Locating, recruiting and training additional safety instructors
  • Recruiting and training "Trail Ambassadors"
  • Promoting the ATV image in a positive light so the public can form opinions about ATV use based on ethical and responsible riders and not the improper actions of a few

If the department and the nonprofit organization work towards these goals, what else are we expecting?

• We hope to see six main things as a result of the work accomplished;
  • Reduce the number of ATV injury incidents and fatal crashes
  • Reduce ATV violations & complaints from the public
  • Ease the department workload related to recruiting instructors and duties associated with safety class presentations
  • Sustain all-terrain vehicle and outdoor recreation opportunities
  • Improve opportunities for increased ATV operation
  • Improve the ATVer image

Why is the grant needed?

• The grant is needed for two main reasons;
1. We are in short supply of ATV safety instructors. The number of ATVs being used and the dramatic increase in its popularity has exceeded the department's ability to keep up with demands. In the past, volunteer ATV safety instructors were able to accommodate most of the requests for safety certifications, but recent growth has even taxed their capacity.
   
   Mandatory certification has compelled the department to aggressively recruit ATV instructors. Awarding the grant to a nonprofit organization is part of that aggressive effort.
   
   
2. With growth and demand, there are additional problems. Although small by percentage, when you have more users, the recognition of problems becomes magnified. These problems are seen directly on the trail with congestion, irresponsible rider behavior, unethical riding, ATV accidents and increased numbers of fatal crashes. The goals of the grant are designed to help reduce these problems or at least hold them at present levels until other solutions can be developed.

How will the department and the nonprofit group address the two issued listed above?

• The nonprofit group will provide the department an additional avenue to recruit instructors, which will in turn help educate local communities, increase business backing and a provide a broader understanding of ATV use in the local communities. Instructor recruitment will occur within the ATV clubs, local law enforcement community and with the general public. The enticement to become a certified instructor is offering potential volunteers several methods to help educate future ATVers to do the right thing, help improve the local ATVer image, increase active participation in ATV issues; as an instructor, the volunteer will be eligible for Trail Ambassador training. Non-cash incentives provided by the nonprofit will be offered to the Trail Ambassadors and the department provides recognition for service and support to all volunteers.

What is a "Trail Ambassador?"

• A Trail Ambassador is a volunteer trail patroller. This person is trained by the nonprofit organization according to department standards to help ATVers while riding on the trail. Trail Ambassadors are trained to act as role model for other ATVers to follow, distribute regulations & information, assist stranded ATVers and report violations if problems cannot be addressed through on site education. The Trail Ambassador is a police yourself tool that is widely used in other community projects. Two well-known examples of this type of volunteer effort are the Neighborhood Watch and Wisconsin's Sturgeon Watch. Other "citizen watch" programs have shown significant increases in compliance and reductions in complaints and localized problems.

Are Trail Ambassadors law enforcement officers?

• No. The volunteers have no law enforcement authority. Although Trail Ambassadors will wear identification that makes them highly visible, the identifying vests are used as a visible deterrence and for recognition only.

How can I become involved?

• You can inquire about becoming involved with "Ride Smart - Get Involved -Tell Others" by contacting the nonprofit organization NOHVIS (National Off-Highway Insurance & Services Group Inc.) C/O Randy Harden at randy.harden@nohvis.com or by contacting the department at 608-267-7455.
  
  With department and NOHVIS training, entire clubs have become safety instructors & Trail Ambassadors and in turn, they have realized the benefits of their efforts. In a short time period we can get you involved promoting safe ATV riding and in a manner that will help sustain and improve your sport…as the saying goes, "Ride Smart, Get Involved, Tell Others."