They’re exciting and a great way to enjoy the Alberta landscape. They’re also a great way of getting around, doing chores on the farm or acreage. However, all-terrain vehicles – or ATVs – are more than a tool and are definitely not toys. The power that makes them exciting and useful can also make them deadly.
“A lot of kids see ATVs as toys and being out there for the fun of it. They don’t see them as machines,” says Gwen Kelman, a Parkland County Peace Officer. “They can weigh up to 800 pounds. If one of them rolls over you, there’s not a lot you can do.”
ATVs cause more injuries than any other consumer product. In Alberta in one year alone, there were about 780 hospital admissions for injuries related to ATVs and more than 5800 emergency department visits.
“Most people who die in ATV crashes suffer a head injury,” said Dr. Sandy Widder, Edmonton surgeon and trauma researcher. “One of the most important steps people can take to stay safe is to wear an approved ATV helmet that has face and eye protection.”
Taking safety precautions is an important step for all riders, no matter what their age or experience level.
“The majority of people I see on ATVs are young; between the ages of 12 and 18 I’d say,” reveals Kelman. “Some of them are riding alone with no one else, some don’t wear helmets. They drive too fast and spin donuts.”
“We get a lot of older people that don’t wear helmets that are just riding around the farm, going to get their mail, that in itself seems harmless, but when you’re riding on the roads with other vehicles, you never know what can happen.”
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Parkland County is a hot spot for off-road activities like quadding, and the trails even attract people from the city. The concern is those behind the wheel don’t know – or don’t obey – the county bylaw.
“It allows them to ride on our roads and county reserve land,” says Kelamn. “They have to be at least 16 and they have to have a valid driver’s license.”
“On Crown land, the age restriction is 14 if they’re riding alone, or if they’re under 14 they have to be with a parent or another adult over the age of 18 in close proximity,” explains Kelman.
Rules aside, safety is paramount. The Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research recently studied the available research on ATV-related injuries and found that many crashes and injuries could have been avoided by following the seating limit of the ATV.
“ATVs built for one person are harder to control and more likely to tip when a passenger tags along,” explains Dr. Don Voaklander, Director of the provincial centre.
“We urge people to refuse to carry or be a passenger on an ATV that’s only built for one.”
Intoxication by drugs and alcohol has been implicated as one of the most pervasive risk factors in ATV injuries. Even slight intoxication increases both the likelihood of a crash and the likelihood that the injuries sustained will be more severe. Of the ATV fatalities in Alberta between 2002 and 2009, 55% of those checked for alcohol had tested positive – 72% of whom were over the legal limit.
“Most recommendations for safety on ATVs are straight-forward, like zero tolerance for drugs or alcohol,” says Voaklander.
“And ATVs are unique vehicles just like motorcycles or snowmobiles. It takes specific skills to ride an ATV safely.”
Parkland County offers youth aged 12-16 and their families a unique training program called S.T.A.Y. (Skills & Training Awareness for Youth) Upright. It gives young riders the opportunity to evaluate their off-highway vehicle riding skills in a controlled setting with pre-determined tasks while being observed and assessed by their parents or legal guardians.
“The thing with this program is parents have to attend with them,” says Kelman, “so parents get the safety message as well.”
Organizations like the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association and the Alberta Safety Council also offer hands-on training which provides riders the special skills and practice they need.
“The power, speed and weight of an ATV along with the unpredictable nature of the off-road conditions make the consequences of an ATV crash or rollover just too serious to ignore,” says Widder. “By respecting ATVs and making smart choices, we can reduce the risks.”
For more information on S.T.A.Y. Upright program (Skills & Training Awareness for Youth) for ATV riding, click here.
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