Mandate the use of Helmets? - Provincial legislation required?

[Bisch]

New online petition to mandate the use of helmets for ATV riding.

Excerpt from the petition:
"In Alberta over the past 10 years ATVs have been the cause of over 145 deaths, and 5,238 emergency room visits. Costs to the healthcare system have been over 6.5 million dollars and are increasing every year. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in ATV accidents, with 77% of the deceased not wearing a helmet. Helmets can decrease the risk of death in ATV accidents by 42%. This is why we believe that helmets should be mandatory when riding an ATV."

Petition | Government of Alberta: Mandate the use of helmets for all ATV riders | Change.org

I'm sure there are going to be strong opinions on this item, some of which I've considered:

1. We should mandate that people ride safely and provide education as to why it's important
2. We should not be telling people that they HAVE to do something like wear a helmet. People should be responsible and accountable for themselves
3. Would this apply to people using around their farm / acreage?
4. How would you enforce it to make it worthwhile to legislate

Would you support this petition?

 

[DaveB]

Even though I wear a helmet...no I would not support it.

I'd be curious as to how many deaths were from swimming, or bicycling, or walking down the street, or, or , or......

Edit...found some data:

2006 to 2008 there were 1824 emergency visits PER YEAR and 49 deaths PER YEAR for pedestrians. Sounds like quadding is actually safer than walking.....

 

[HotShotHarry]

I'm with Dave. I always wear a helmet except when hunting,and I dislike being told what to do. Our lives are being controlled enough as it is.

 

[TylerG]

Even though I wear a helmet...no I would not support it.

I'd be curious as to how many deaths were from swimming, or bicycling, or walking down the street, or, or , or......

I'm kind of with Dave, but something needs to change.....

Is it that ATV riders are not educated as to why they "should" be wearing helmets? or is it that we need legislation?

there is enough laws out there that are not being enforced due to lack of enforcement officers, why stretch them even further.....

education before legislation is my view.

 

[BIGHORN1]

Even though I wear a helmet...no I would not support it.

I'd be curious as to how many deaths were from swimming, or bicycling, or walking down the street, or, or , or......

Edit...found some data:

2006 to 2008 there were 1824 emergency visits PER YEAR and 49 deaths PER YEAR for pedestrians. Sounds like quadding is actually safer than walking.....

I am with Dave on this one as well, I wear a helmet if out trail riding however I feel that the decision should be ours to make as grown adults, it would also be a pain in the azz for hunting and ice fishing,

 

[Bogger]

New online petition to mandate the use of helmets for ATV riding.

Excerpt from the petition:
"In Alberta over the past 10 years ATVs have been the cause of over 145 deaths, and 5,238 emergency room visits. Costs to the healthcare system have been over 6.5 million dollars and are increasing every year. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in ATV accidents, with 77% of the deceased not wearing a helmet. Helmets can decrease the risk of death in ATV accidents by 42%. This is why we believe that helmets should be mandatory when riding an ATV."

Petition | Government of Alberta: Mandate the use of helmets for all ATV riders | Change.org

I'm sure there are going to be strong opinions on this item, some of which I've considered:

1. We should mandate that people ride safely and provide education as to why it's important worked with seatbelts
2. We should not be telling people that they HAVE to do something like wear a helmet. People should be responsible and accountable for themselves i agree
3. Would this apply to people using around their farm / acreage? legislation should cover public & crown land only
4. How would you enforce it to make it worthwhile to legislate spot checks much like reg/ins checks, otherwise make an injured person responsible for medical care costs if injured while not wearing one.... oh but wait??? does this mean that people not wearing a seat belt in an accident should pay for thier own helthcare?? or someone injured working at home from a fall not tied off??? or basically anything that could have been preventable burden the victim with the cost???

Would you support this petition?

Under 18 manditory (hell it is on a bicycle) other than that the repercussions could be too far reaching.
Over 20000 seniors report to emergency rooms anually due to bathroom falls, does this mean we should legislate that all households with any resident over the age of 65 install toilet and bathtub grab rails?

 

[Bogger]

Even though I wear a helmet...no I would not support it.

I'd be curious as to how many deaths were from swimming, or bicycling, or walking down the street, or, or , or......

Edit...found some data:

2006 to 2008 there were 1824 emergency visits PER YEAR and 49 deaths PER YEAR for pedestrians. Sounds like quadding is actually safer than walking.....

And bicycling, skiing, rollerblading, hockey, soccer, gymnastics and sex....

Hell quadding ranks up there with skydiving, rock climbing, bungy jumping & snowmobiling as some of the safest recreational activities statistically speaking....

 

[250mark1]

the government has been working on legislation one problem they have is with industries that use atv's as under work safe laws they are required to wear hard hats which helmets to do not meet regulations

FYI online petions are usually not acceptable as there is no signature

really i dont think we need a law it is common sense really to wear a helmet it doesnt matter how good of a rider you are chit happens quads break,animals run out in front of you etc

 

[Titan]

I believe that in Canada, if you choose to NOT wear a Helmet you should be required to pay additional health care premiums OR pay for your own emergency care if you are injured....same with smoking.

 

[Bogger]

the government has been working on legislation one problem they have is with industries that use atv's as under work safe laws they are required to wear hard hats which helmets to do not meet regulations

FYI online petions are usually not acceptable as there is no signature

really i dont think we need a law it is common sense really to wear a helmet it doesnt matter how good of a rider you are chit happens quads break,animals run out in front of you etc

Thats crap.... no employer even on a hard hat mandatory site is going to allow an employee/worker to wear a hard hat in place of a DOT approved helmet. a DOT approved helmet is recomended by all ATV/UTV manufacturers and any employer is required to ensure that any equipment is used as per manufacturers recommendations.

I believe that in Canada, if you choose to NOT wear a Helmet you should be required to pay additional health care premiums OR pay for your own emergency care if you are injured....same with smoking.

Taxes from cigarettes put more money into the healthcare system than the big macs & sodas your average fatty fat fat diabetic is wolfing down.... If it wasn't for tobacco tax our healthcare system would implode.....

 

[gforce]

does one wear said helmet while sledding...are the rocks softer in the summer??..imo if you have a seat under yer ars you should have a helmet on yer head...just sayin!..maybe this just needs to enforced by the insurance companys..no helmet..no coverage..same as drinking and driving..oh i could go on!

 

[RZR101]

Legislation or not, helmets save lives. I've personaly proven this on a few occasions.

 

[Titan]

Taxes from cigarettes put more money into the healthcare system than the big macs & sodas your average fatty fat fat diabetic is wolfing down.... If it wasn't for tobacco tax our healthcare system would implode.....

Ok the smoking comment I made was probably out of line (and I'm a/trying not to be a smoker) however my point is same as drinking and driving...no helmet no coverage....and that should extend to emergency services as well...why should I have to pay huge money into health care for someones injury that could have been lessened if not eliminated by the use of a brain bucket?

 

[Bogger]

I don't think anyone will argue against the use of helmets....that would be like arguing there is nothing wrong with having beer on the trails while riding...who would do that?????

But I don't think we need another law to force common sense... I do believe that parents should be fined if minors are caught riding without a helmet...

Legislation or not, helmets save lives. I've personaly proven this on a few occasions.

 

[Bogger]

Lots of opinions on this... been an ongoing topic

https://www.snowandmud.com/forum/f26/helmet-law-47884.html

https://www.snowandmud.com/forum/f26/helmet-laws-36903.html

https://www.snowandmud.com/forum/f76/helmets-24885.html

https://www.snowandmud.com/forum/f26/put-damn-helmet-33246.html

 

[RZR101]

I don't think anyone will argue against the use of helmets....that would be like arguing there is nothing wrong with having beer on the trails while riding...who would do that?????

But I don't think we need another law to force common sense... I do believe that parents should be fined if minors are caught riding without a helmet...

Good dig, and as I have said before, Hard lesson learned.

 

[T-team]

I can't beleive ANYONE would be against this!!!! I think it would be a great idea myself...... You think if somebody crashed thier quad and had a helmet on and walked away.... That there would be a "tragic" article in the paper the next day ending in ATV fatalitie stat's for the year?? The retards out there are the ones that paint a bad image on EVERYONE.. If there were LAWS in place... when people have thier HELMETLESS fatal accidents... they would be more labeled as LAW BREAKERS... Instead of an "irrisposible atv rider". just my two cents.

 

[Bogger]

I agree totally, only issue being it's a slippery slope. Where does one draw the line between blatant dissregard and poor judgement..

Good luck on the not smoking... I'm on day 21 myself...

Ok the smoking comment I made was probably out of line (and I'm a/trying not to be a smoker) however my point is same as drinking and driving...no helmet no coverage....and that should extend to emergency services as well...why should I have to pay huge money into health care for someones injury that could have been lessened if not eliminated by the use of a brain bucket?

 

[gforce]

btw..this dead horse has been beaten to death before..

 

[DaveB]

Ok the smoking comment I made was probably out of line (and I'm a/trying not to be a smoker) however my point is same as drinking and driving...no helmet no coverage....and that should extend to emergency services as well...why should I have to pay huge money into health care for someones injury that could have been lessened if not eliminated by the use of a brain bucket?

Do you object to paying health care for the guy that eats Micky d's 3 times a week and has a heart attack? What about the jaywalker who gets hit by a car? What about the guy who cuts his foot with his lawn mower because he was cutting his grass with flip flops? What about your neighbor who fell off his ladder because he wasn't tied off to the roof when he was putting up his Christmas light? Should all these people be denied health care because of their negligence?
Do we need laws that state no fast food more than once a week...jaywalkers will be shot....steel toed boots mandatory for all yard work....etc. Less government, more common sense. You get hurt for not wearing a helmet, well, maybe you deserve it, but we also live in a society that takes care of all it's idiots. I pay for it. You pay for it. Most of us pay for it.