Avalon T’Railways is welcoming news of mandatory helmet and seatbelt use for off-road vehicles.

The province announced the changes to the regulations yesterday.

As of May 19, use will be mandatory all across the province for things such as quads, side-by-sides, and snowmobiles.

President Rick Noseworthy says there have been three major incidents so far this year where they are fairly certain that if the operator had been wearing a helmet they would still be alive.

As well, he calls the use of seatbelts a “no brainer.”

Noseworthy calls the changes “long overdue.”

He says given how dangerous driving off-road vehicles can be, the rules shouldn’t need to be regulated, as it’s like “legislating common sense.”