Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council Will Utilize ATV Safety Institute Training Curriculum

IRVINE, Calif., July 24, 2008 - The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) has granted a royalty-free license to use its all-terrain vehicle training curriculum to the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV). 

Under the licensing agreement, the COHV will utilize the ATV RiderCourse - developed by the ATV Safety Institute (ASI), a division of the SVIA - along with supplemental Canadian information, to train ATV Instructors and riders throughout Canada in accordance with SVIA guidelines and standards.

"We’re very pleased to help make ATV safety training available to our northern neighbors through the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council," said SVIA Executive Vice President Paul Vitrano. "It fits perfectly with SVIA’s mission and vision to foster the safe and responsible use of ATVs, both in the United States and internationally."

"Education and training are a priority for the COHV and its member companies," stated Bob Ramsay, President of the COHV. "Being able to implement the ASI training curriculum is vital to our ongoing endeavors to ensure safe and responsible ATV use in Canada. Equally important is the fact that the ASI ATV RiderCourse has been tested and fine tuned so that Canadian Instructors can offer a first class training course to everyone from new to experienced riders."

ASI curriculum materials have also been licensed to organizations in England and other European countries. 

Since 1983, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America® has promoted the safe and responsible use of All-Terrain Vehicles through rider training programs, public awareness campaigns, and state legislation. The SVIA also serves as a resource for ATV research, statistics, and vehicle standard. The SVIA, based in Irvine, California, is a not-for-profit trade association sponsored by Arctic Cat, BRP, CROSSRUNNER, Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, Polaris, Suzuki, Tomberlin and Yamaha. For membership information, call 949.727.3727; for safety information or to enroll in the ATV RiderCourseSM nearest you, visit www.atvsafety.org and click on "Online Enrollment" or call 800.887.2887.

The Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV), originally founded in 1984, is a national, non-profit, trade association representing the responsible interests of Canada’s major ATV and off-road motorcycle manufacturers, distributors and retail outlets of ATV and off-road motorcycle related products and services. Find out more at: www.cohv.ca.

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