This blog almost got lost. I blog the issue on Saturday and the debate was on....Click below -
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4 comments:
Anonymous
said...
In response to your commentary "ATVS: SETTING HIGH STANDARD", Tuesday December 5th, I have many issues with the proposed changes in the "Off-Road Vehicles Act", and have sent my arguments to government officials and the media (without response thus far). One of the biggest issues I have is the lack of education on the issue that the media is giving the public. All anybody hears or reads is about the accidents involving young children on large ATVs. In fact, many people believe the proposed ban has to deal with ATVs only. The truth is that the proposed legislation is a ban on under 16 operators of ALL off-highway vehicles - "The ban will include all off-road vehicles, such as ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, dune buggies and amphibious machines." (source Province of New Brunswick web site, "News" [http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/news/ps/2006e1468ps.htm]) Here is one major flaw: there are machines manufactured with small children in mind. There is a huge difference between young children operating machines not designed for them, operating them without adherence to the current laws (as is the case of the recent tragedies), and children operating machines tailored to their sizes and skill levels, within the parameters of the current laws. There is a huge difference between a child on a 800cc, 650lb machine, and a child on a 50cc, 85lb machine. One broad ban is grossly unfair and unreasonable. In closing, I wish to point out your invalid comparison between the proposed ban and the helmet law. There is no comparison because the helmet law deals with a safety issue whereby ALL riders are required to wear one for their safety in case of an accident. The ban, as mentioned above, is a gross over-reaction because it is a fact that children, following the current laws, can safely operate off-road vehicles. Also, accident statistics are thrown around freely by those in favour of the ban; how many of these accidents included infractions to the current laws? Sadly, we know that the two most recent New Brunswick deaths involving children and ATVs came about while these laws were being broken. Although I feel for the families, changing the laws because the government is unwilling to enforce the current law (I am not aware of any charges being laid in either case) is not the answer.
The answer is NO but for some reason some people feel their children should be allowed and they have special protection or powers. It is not only lack of education; enforce the laws we have on the books.
Adults also can be killed on the ATV. Courses, insurance and stricter laws to protect those who feel they know what they are doing. Experience does not leave you without risks. Protect those families who don't have common sense. Small or big ATV's they all can be killers; designed or not. Bottom line is someone wants to make money but you are left without a loved one. People are not replaceable but our actions can be. Stepup and stop the mind games. We are at fault for not protecting our youth. Start with age requirements, then courses, manatory insurance for ALL Off Road Vehicles. Start now and if 16 is the age they have to have a licence to prove they took the proper courses and that comes before a purchase can be made. Of course common sense seems to go out the window. Sorry but it is not grossly unfair but what is really wrong are the needless loss of life. Oh a helmet is a given but it doesnot give you special protection to save your life. It is just a helmet not tailored to remove vehicle off of people bodies or heads. Banned until 16 but then no ownership or operation unless a strict courses with testing is completed (first classromm then on road). Common sense is something we have forgotten.
Yes I agree all steps need to be taken. Age is a good starting point. No ownwership before courses and insurance before you can be on the roads. That should be for all off road vehicles. Followup programs to be sure all abide the laws set. We only have one ATV and we pay high rates.
Whats is this going to do to the kids that race bikes. A kid could get killed crossing the street I can control my son on his bike. There has been kids killed playing hockey should we stop them from that as well maybe we should keep our kids in the house and watch tv and play games lets make them all fat and see what that does to them I think there is a lot of people out there that don't have any idea what they are talking about when it comes to dirt bikes and how much safe fun they can have under the right watchful eye of an parent.
4 comments:
In response to your commentary "ATVS: SETTING HIGH STANDARD", Tuesday December 5th, I have many issues with the proposed changes in the "Off-Road Vehicles Act", and have sent my arguments to government officials and the media (without response thus far). One of the biggest issues I have is the lack of education on the issue that the media is giving the public. All anybody hears or reads is about the accidents involving young children on large ATVs. In fact, many people believe the proposed ban has to deal with ATVs only. The truth is that the proposed legislation is a ban on under 16 operators of ALL off-highway vehicles - "The ban will include all off-road vehicles, such as ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, dune buggies and amphibious machines." (source Province of New Brunswick web site, "News" [http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/news/ps/2006e1468ps.htm]) Here is one major flaw: there are machines manufactured with small children in mind. There is a huge difference between young children operating machines not designed for them, operating them without adherence to the current laws (as is the case of the recent tragedies), and children operating machines tailored to their sizes and skill levels, within the parameters of the current laws. There is a huge difference between a child on a 800cc, 650lb machine, and a child on a 50cc, 85lb machine. One broad ban is grossly unfair and unreasonable.
In closing, I wish to point out your invalid comparison between the proposed ban and the helmet law. There is no comparison because the helmet law deals with a safety issue whereby ALL riders are required to wear one for their safety in case of an accident. The ban, as mentioned above, is a gross over-reaction because it is a fact that children, following the current laws, can safely operate off-road vehicles. Also, accident statistics are thrown around freely by those in favour of the ban; how many of these accidents included infractions to the current laws? Sadly, we know that the two most recent New Brunswick deaths involving children and ATVs came about while these laws were being broken. Although I feel for the families, changing the laws because the government is unwilling to enforce the current law (I am not aware of any charges being laid in either case) is not the answer.
The answer is NO but for some reason some people feel their children should be allowed and they have special protection or powers. It is not only lack of education; enforce the laws we have on the books.
Adults also can be killed on the ATV. Courses, insurance and stricter laws to protect those who feel they know what they are doing. Experience does not leave you without risks. Protect those families who don't have common sense. Small or big ATV's they all can be killers; designed or not. Bottom line is someone wants to make money but you are left without a loved one. People are not replaceable but our actions can be. Stepup and stop the mind games. We are at fault for not protecting our youth. Start with age requirements, then courses, manatory insurance for ALL Off Road Vehicles. Start now and if 16 is the age they have to have a licence to prove they took the proper courses and that comes before a purchase can be made. Of course common sense seems to go out the window. Sorry but it is not grossly unfair but what is really wrong are the needless loss of life. Oh a helmet is a given but it doesnot give you special protection to save your life. It is just a helmet not tailored to remove vehicle off of people bodies or heads. Banned until 16 but then no ownership or operation unless a strict courses with testing is completed (first classromm then on road). Common sense is something we have forgotten.
Yes I agree all steps need to be taken. Age is a good starting point. No ownwership before courses and insurance before you can be on the roads. That should be for all off road vehicles. Followup programs to be sure all abide the laws set. We only have one ATV and we pay high rates.
Whats is this going to do to the kids that race bikes. A kid could get killed crossing the street I can control my son on his bike. There has been kids killed playing hockey should we stop them from that as well maybe we should keep our kids in the house and watch tv and play games lets make them all fat and see what that does to them I think there is a lot of people out there that don't have any idea what they are talking about when it comes to dirt bikes and how much safe fun they can have under the right watchful eye of an parent.
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