Off-road

Landrover Defender 90 Offroading

The term Off-Road refers to a driving surface which is not conventionally paved such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks and other natural terrain. These terrains can sometimes only be traveled by vehicles designed for off-road driving (such as heavy-duty trucks and equipment, SUVs, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, mountain bicycles) or vehicles that have extra ground clearance, sturdy tires, and in some cases, front and rear locking differential. Notable examples of vehicle manufacturers that produce a type of off-road vehicle include AM General, Land Rover, Ford, General Motors, Jeep, and Toyota.

In some countries, off-road activities are strictly regulated, while others promote cross country off-road endurance events like the Dakar Rally and Baja 1000 that are considered a test of navigation skills and machine durability.

Off-Road vehicle activities have been criticized by conservation groups who contend that the continued use of an area for off-road activities can lead to permanent disruption of top soil, silting of local waters, and the disruption of breeding habitats. The off-road community, however, points out that most off-road activities are done responsibly, and that most damage to the off-road environment is caused by urban sprawl and irresponsible users of the off-road environment.

References

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