Youth Off Highway Vehicle and Personal Watercraft Educational Courses available

Salt Lake – In an effort to meet the growing demands for off-highway vehicle (OHV) and personal watercraft (PWC) youth education courses, Utah State Parks has made classes available online at http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/ .

Cost for the OHV class is $30 and covers ATVs, off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and side-by-side ATVs. The cost of the PWC course, which covers JetSki and SeaDoo-type boats is $34.95, which includes a $5 certification fee. Upon successful completion of the course, students print a temporary certificate valid for 60 days and later receive a permanent certificate by mail.

Students are strongly encouraged to thoroughly study all materials prior to taking the test. Students who do not pass the course, must pay a second registration fee and retake the test.

“Safety is our number one concern. We want to reduce the number of accidents by educating youth to operate ATVs and PWC safely and emphasize the importance of wearing safety equipment, and following laws and rules,” stated OHV/PWC Education Coordinator Ann Evans. “Online courses provide easier access to education courses and allow students to learn at their own pace.”

Utah law requires youth eight to 16 to complete the Utah State Parks Know Before You Go! OHV Education Course before operating a machine on public lands, roads or trails. It is illegal for any child under age eight to operate an OHV on public land.

Utah youth, 12 to 17 years of age, are required to complete and pass the Utah PWC Education Course in order to operate PWC (Jet Ski, Wave Runner, Sea-Doo) without an adult on board. Children who are younger than 12, may not operate a PWC without a responsible adult onboard.

Since the creation of the education courses, approximately 22,000 students have completed the PWC course and over 60,000 students have taken the OHV course.

For more information, visit stateparks.utah.gov, call (800) OHV-RIDE or (800) RIDE PWC.