It’s going to be a different May 24th Weekend for some people as helmets and seatbelts on machines equipped with them will be mandatory for the operation of all off-road vehicles in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The new laws come into effect Thursday but helmets will not be required for hunting and trapping activities involving frequent stops where speed is less than 20 km/h.

Rick Noseworthy, President of the Newfoundland T’Railway Council, is hearing a lot of reasons from people as to why they should not wear a helmet but he says the bottom line is that they save lives.

Neither does he accept the argument that the helmets can be stuffy and reduce peripheral vision.

He says the machines are being used in such an environment that helmets are important. When they roll, things such as branches and rocks can enter the compartment.