OHV Safety Week: Coming to a California State Park Near You, November 16-24, 2024
Strap on your helmet, buckle your seat belt, bring a buddy, and grab plenty of water for hydration as you participate in this year’s OHV Safety Week November 16-24. Safety Week is an opportunity for state parks and their partners to showcase safety measures while enjoying California State Parks. Messaging includes information about sharing the trail, and keeping yourself and others safe while enjoying the park and various OHV recreational opportunities. Parks host a variety of classes and activities that illustrate these messages. This event is co-hosted by the California Outdoor Recreation Foundation (CORF) and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA).
According to Safety Week co-founder Don Schmidt, “Safety Week was born out of the idea to highlight and enhance off-highway vehicle safety throughout California. The OHMVR Division works with a large off-highway vehicle community who recognizes the importance of getting participants to internalize safety as part of their recreation experience.” State Parks and partner organizations hosted their first Safety Week in 2022 directly following the 2021 50th anniversary of the OHMVR Division. A resolution was passed to have the Department host a safety week which has now morphed into a successful annual event. Other partner agencies include the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). “We invite people from all over the country to come to California to honor Safety Week,” says Schmidt.
According to Kevin Schmidt, OHV Interpretation and Education Special Events Outreach Coordinator, “Safety Week applies to more than just the nine State Vehicular Recreation Areas (SVRAs). Safety Week is pertinent to all recreation users: traditional OHV riders, cyclists, horseback riders, and other trail users.” Schmidt shares:
Key messages throughout the week focus on ‘Know Before You Go’ and include making sure you are hydrated, have plenty of food, and have the ability to reach out to others. Have a travel plan ahead of time and tell people where you are going and when you plan to return. Always go with at least one other person and bring all the equipment you may need—extra water, food, layers, tow straps, winches, spare tires, batteries, and general recovery gear. Safety is the topic, and it applies to all our park users.
Schmidt encourages parks throughout the state, including non-OHV parks, to promote Safety Week for all their trail users.
There are many events planned for the Week and the schedule can be accessed here. “We invite people from all over the country to California to honor Safety Week” says Don Schmidt. Reach out to Don.Schmidt@parks.ca.gov if you need information, resources to host an event in your park, or would like further information.