The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) issued a reminder of the current night driving restrictions at all off-road vehicle (ORV) ramps after an increase in beach drivers was reported outside of the permitted daytime hours.
“Cape Hatteras National Seashore law enforcement rangers have noticed an uptick in ORV drivers arriving on the beach before opening times at ramps 38, 55, and a number of other ocean-side ramps,” said Mike Barber, Public Affairs Specialist for CHNS.
Night driving restrictions help protect nesting sea turtles, which start to arrive in early May along the Hatteras and Ocracoke Island shorelines. The CHNS turtle patrol program, which identifies recent nesting sites along the beaches, begins in May as well, and helps protect these nests during an approximate 60-day incubation period.
“Prior to beach opening times for ORVs, biological technicians play an important early morning role in monitoring and protecting sea turtle nesting activities by surveying beaches to look for signs of nesting, identifying and marking nest locations to protect them, and recording data,” said Barber.
“In a couple of months, many of the sea turtle nests will hatch during the nighttime hours, which is another reason for night driving rules at the Seashore.”
From May 1 through July 31, priority off-road vehicle (ORV) ramps close at 9:00 p.m. and reopen the following morning at 6:00 a.m. All other designated oceanside ORV ramps close at 9:00 p.m. and reopen at 7:00 a.m.
Priority ORV ramps include ramps 2, 4, 25, 27, 43, 44, 48, 49, 70, and 72. Soundside ramps, Inside Road, and Pole Road do not have night driving restrictions. A map of ORV access ramps can be found online at https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/maps.htm/.
While night driving restrictions are in place, visitors may still park their vehicles in parking areas and walk on the beach at night. Night driving restrictions for most ORV ramps are typically lifted on September 15.
For current beach access information, go to http://go.nps.gov/beachaccess.
