Parents warned to consider dangers of off-road vehicles to kids
It's the time of year when many are getting ready to hit the trails on an ATV in Manitoba. But riding off-road vehicles can be dangerous, particularly for kids, and collisions can be fatal, experts warn.
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Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
What should I do when there's a horse-drawn vehicle on the road?
What are drivers supposed to do when they encounter horses or horse-drawn buggies on the road? Few people, especially if they're from cities, understand how deadly collisions between horses and cars can be. – Mike, Ontario If you come up on a horse and buggy on the road while you're driving, just hold your horses. 'You're going to approach them very cautiously and you're only going to pass when it is completely safe to do so,' said Constable Randi Crawford, with the Oxford County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). 'It's very similar to what you're supposed to do when you see slow-moving farm equipment [or any other slow-moving vehicle].' It's 'not uncommon' to see horse-drawn vehicles in Oxford County, about 50 kilometres southwest of Kitchener, Ont., and other parts of Ontario with Amish and Mennonite communities, Crawford said. Is it legal and safe to drive barefoot? Can I legally drive with just a photo of my licence? Some in those communities reject modern technology, including cars – and use horses instead. 'They can be found not only in the rural communities but also in towns,' she said. 'Several businesses still provide hitching stations for the horses in their parking lots or on their properties.' Because horse-drawn vehicles don't count as motor vehicles under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act (HTA), they don't need licence plates or registration – and drivers don't need a driver's licence, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) said in an e-mail. But they do need either a slow-moving vehicle sign or reflective tape on the back of the buggy that is visible from at least 150 metres away, MTO said. In Ontario, horses and horse-drawn vehicles are allowed on all roads except the 400-series highways, Crawford said. 'I would say mostly they stick to the less-travelled roads as much as they can,' she said. 'And the average speed, from what I've gathered from talking to different people in the community, is about 14 kilometres an hour.' Horse-drawn vehicles have to keep to the right, just like all slow-moving vehicles. While they're not required to ride on the shoulder – if there is one – it's usually the safest place for them to be, Crawford said. 'We all know that some of these roads can be quite narrow, so a shoulder maybe wouldn't always be the safest place because of a deep ditch, a bridge or a mailbox coming up ahead,' she said. 'It's really just them using their best judgment.' Horse-drawn vehicles also need to follow 'the same rules of the road as everyone else,' including stopping at stop signs, she said. Just say whoa? But, the law also has specific rules for how drivers behave around horses on the road. For instance, section 167 of the HTA states you have to 'exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the frightening of the horse.' Horses can get spooked by loud noises – including engine revving, horns, loud music or a dog barking through an open car window – cars following too closely and even bright lights. 'Horses have a flight response – so they're not going to take on a tractor, they're going to turn around and run away,' said Margot Vilvang, a riding coach in Vancouver. 'You have to be vigilant as a rider – think a little bit like a horse, who think everything is out to get them.' Even a car riding slowly alongside to take pictures of the horse and buggy – something that happens a lot in Amish country – can be unsettling, OPP's Crawford said. 'Imagine trying to walk in someone else's shoes or ride in someone else's buggy,' she said, adding that it's best to pass slowly, as far away from the horse as you can, without honking or lingering beside the horse. 'When I'm out on the road and I've pulled someone over and I'm standing at a car, the amount of discomfort that I feel when a car zips by me is just unsettling. So just be cautious, mindful and courteous.' That also means giving horses or horse-drawn vehicles plenty of space instead of tailgating them, she said. While the rules vary by province, horses and horse-drawn vehicles are generally allowed on public roads. Some provinces have exceptions for certain types of roads – in Quebec, for instance, horses are not allowed on freeways. Also, cities and towns may have their own bylaws about whether – and where – horses and buggies are allowed. Toronto, for instance, bans riding horses and horse-drawn vehicles on streets and sidewalks. There are exceptions for the police and the military – and for special events including parades, Toronto police said in an e-mail. Calgary allows horses on roads, but commercial horse-drawn vehicles need a permit, Calgary police said in an e-mail. Dangerous encounters When cars hit horses or horse-drawn vehicles, horses, riders and passengers can face serious – and even fatal – injuries, Crawford said. 'The risk of injury or death to the buggy drivers or the horses are high,' she said. 'They don't have that big steel frame around them to help keep them safe.' Crawford said there have been no fatal collisions involving a horse so far this year in her district, although there were two with serious injuries. Last December, two passengers in a horse-drawn buggy were seriously injured and the horse was killed in a collision in Norwich township, between Hamilton and London. In January 2022, a 27-year-old driver of a horse-drawn buggy was killed near Wingham, about 90 kilometres northwest of Kitchener when the horse veered into oncoming traffic. It's not clear how many collisions there are involving horse-drawn vehicles in Ontario each year. That's because collision reports don't specifically identify whether a horse-drawn vehicle was involved, the MTO said. In these communities, most local drivers expect to see horse-drawn vehicles on the road, Crawford said. 'Often, [the danger] is maybe people who are travelling through the area that might not know it too well,' she said. 'If you are visiting an area that you are not familiar with, do a quick search on your computer so you can understand what kind of communities you'll be going through … It can help you predict traffic challenges such as horse-drawn vehicles and slow-moving farm equipment." Have a driving question? Send it to globedrive@ and put 'Driving Concerns' in your subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be answered. Canada's a big place, so let us know where you are so we can find the answer for your city and province.
Globe and Mail
4 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Tesla Stock Investors Just Got Bad News From Wall Street, but There's a Silver Lining
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) shares have tumbled 20% this year, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has jumped 5%. Poor financial results driven by market share losses are the main source of consternation, but CEO Elon Musk has arguably damaged the brand with his behavior. Indeed, Musk has managed to upset both political parties. His support for President Donald Trump and work with the Department of Government Efficiency have irritated Democrats, while his criticism of the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" and the subsequent feud with Trump have tanked his popularity with Republicans. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » Unfortunately, the bad news continues to roll in for Tesla. Consensus earnings estimates among Wall Street analysts have been revised sharply lower in the last 90 days due to headwinds surrounding the core automotive business. Here's what investors should know. Tesla is losing market share, and Wall Street is cutting earnings estimates Tesla's deliveries have declined in three of the last five quarters as demand for its aging lineup of electric cars has nosedived amid high interest rates and political backlash. The decline accelerated in the first quarter of 2025, as Tesla's automotive revenue fell by 20%, and non-GAAP (non-generally accepted accounting principles) net income dropped by 40%. Management laid the blame in part on factory updates required for the recently introduced Model Y Juniper. However, the production lines have been refreshed, and the company is still losing ground. Through April, U.S. market share dropped by 9 percentage points, European market share by 8 percentage points, and Chinese market share by 3 percentage points. Those market share losses are particularly discouraging because many automakers have seen robust demand for electric cars this year. In fact, global electric car sales soared 38% through April, according to Morgan Stanley. Additionally, despite domestic manufacturing capacity, Tesla relies on imported auto parts, which are now subject to a 25% tariff. That headwind, coupled with market share losses, has caused analysts to cut earnings forecasts. Consensus estimates for 2025 and 2026 have dropped by 25% and 16%, respectively, in the last three months, according to LSEG. Here's the big picture: Wall Street now expects Tesla's adjusted earnings to increase at 14% annually through 2026. That consensus makes the current valuation of 145 times adjusted earnings look absurdly expensive. Those figures indicate a price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of over 10. Multiples above 2 or 3 are generally considered overvalued. Autonomous ride-sharing is the silver lining for Tesla shareholders Tesla recently launched its long-awaited autonomous ride-sharing service, albeit on a very limited scale. Roughly a dozen robotaxis hit the streets in Austin, Texas, on June 22, though rides are currently restricted to invitees. Reuters reported a handful of problematic driving incidents during the debut, but nothing overly worrisome and certainly no accidents. Tesla has been developing its full self-driving (FSD) platform for over a decade, and its approach differs from that of Alphabet 's Waymo, the market leader. Waymos are outfitted with a costly array of cameras, radar, and lidar, and their robotaxis use high-definition maps to navigate. But Teslas are outfitted only with cameras and rely solely on computer vision to navigate, which is more cost-efficient and scalable. Autonomous ride-sharing promises to be a substantial opportunity for Tesla. RBC analyst Tom Narayan estimates that the company could earn $115 billion in robotaxi revenue in 2040, which he says could equate to about $50 billion in profits. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas estimates that the company could earn $700 billion in robotaxi revenue in 2040, which he says could equate to about $120 billion in profits. Either way, Tesla could be much more profitable in the future as its focus shifts from low-margin electric car manufacturing to high-margin robotaxi services. Indeed, Elon Musk says Tesla could eventually be the most valuable company in the world as it monetizes its FSD platform and robotics products. That is undoubtedly a silver lining for shareholders in what has been a disappointing year. Don't miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $409,114!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $38,173!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $713,547!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See the 3 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Trevor Jennewine has positions in Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
CTV News
15 hours ago
- CTV News
Driver suffers minor injuries after crashing into Waterloo grocery store
An officer with the Waterloo Regional Police Service. (Courtesy: WRPS) Police are investigating after a vehicle crashed into a grocery store in a commercial plaza on Laurelwood Drive in Waterloo Saturday afternoon. Waterloo Regional Police say the incident happened around 4:40 p.m. According to police, the vehicle remains lodged in the building as crews assess the structure's integrity. The driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the collision. No other injuries have been reported at this time.
