watch W5 saturday at 7 pm est

[drford]

just letting people know they are having a documentary on atv accidents i feel it should be watched and people write in with their comments the previews i have seen looks like they are gonna give the average atv'er a bad name due to STUPID not wearing saftey gear and allowing your kid to ride a over powerd and sized quad this could become an interesting discussion after watching it lets see what happens lets get ready to

 

[SLY]

Watched it. A real nice display of people riding without helmets, riding 2 up etc. There are warning labels all over the machines warning againt that, saying it can result in injury or death. They are saying they tip over too easy? What about my sled? dirt bike? No matter what they do there will always be something. I sympathize with losses but c'mon, the one guy takes the ATV out in the middle of the night with no helmet and it flips all by itself going down the road??? and that's the manufacturer's problem? Who gave him the keys to do it in the first place? A helmet might have helped?

 

[Mongrol]

Coverage was ok but would have liked to see the emphasis on irresponsible riders.

Its up to everyone else to protect me from myself or so it seems.

 

[Murminator]

In case you missed it

CTV News | Rider Beware: Few regulations leave ATV riders at risk

 

[messinaround]

I foud the episode was pathetic and they should all be fired for putting together such a stupid display on atv's. If poeple use common sens they are very stable and safe to ride. I feel bad for the poeple who lost family members but it is not a fault of the atv.

 

[Bogger]

My submission....................

I would like to thank you on behalf of all responsible riders for helping to paint us all with the same brush. As a family we own 6 ATV's and frequently ride as a family. My 11 year old daughter rides her own quad...a 125cc breeze, manufactured for her age group. My 7 year old son rides on my quad outfitted with a properly secured passenger seat and we all wear helmets at all times.
Can they be dangerous??? absolutely! the majority of the footage you used in your story showed riders driving too fast for conditions and not wearing helmets.
Did you know????
According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information2, between April 1, 2001 and March 31, 2002, a total of 6,224 Canadians fell on or from stairs or steps in their homes and were injured seriously enough to require a hospital visit.
So should we outlaw the use of stairs in canada? Obviously there are many people who do not know how to properly use them.
You leave out many details which are widely known to the ATV community however not common knowledge.
1. Many ATV's are modified, lift kits, upgraded tires, ect. Given this fact I feel that the manufacturers safety standards are just fine, people would continue to change them anyhow.
2. many of the injuries result from younger children being allowed to operate too large of a machine without proper knowledge/training/experience.
3. Way too many people ride without helmets.
These facts may never change unfortunately and as ATV's gain in popularity inevitably so will the injuries associated with.
Did you know????
There were 13,411 injury cases in 2006 related to golf cart use in the US (could not find a canadian stat) but 10% of the population in canada so probably safe to say 10% of the injuries....actually lets say 5% due to our shorter golf season. Thats 670.5 injuries related to golf carts in 1 year.... what safety standards are the manufacturers of golf carts held to? maybe we should outlaw the use of golf carts.
The dangers you identified in your report are very real and most ATV users (alright maybe not most, but us responsible ones anyway) realize the risk and take measures to mitigate that risk as much as we can and it is very frustrating to see a respected news authority use 1/2 truths and bias information to make a public case against the use of ATV's.
How many injuries each year result from activities such as Hockey, Skiing, swimming, biking, rollerblading, football ect???????
the deaths/injuries are unfortunate but like you yourself pointed out there are 2.5 million riders resulting in 150 deaths annually...0.006% mortality rate, if you took into account how many of those 150 were riding too fast for terrain, not wearing helmets, under the influence of alcohol or the big one a child riding an adult machine that number would be MUCH smaller.

Thank you

Ian Simpson
Certified Health & Safety Coordinator, CCA Gold Seal Safety Coordinator.

 

[Bogger]

YA where were the pictures of a family going for a ride and a picnic in the forest and wearing helmets.Don't mean to keep ranting but F..K they----- me off with that pathetic display.

Then don't just ----- on here......write in....Just sayin

 

[give_it_all_]

Very well written letter Bogger!

 

[messinaround]

Then don't just ------ on here......write in....Just sayin

Very well wrote letter and thank you for submitting it.And I did respond to W5

 

[femme.fatale.]

Thank you Bogger,

I agree wholeheartedly.... The industry isn't to blame for people's lack of thought, or responsibility. It cast a POOR light on us responsible, knowledgeable riders...

 

[Mongrol]

Well written BOGGER - input from the RESPONSIBLE SIDE.

 

[drford]

well written bogger that is the kind of stuff that needs to be brought to the public they need a part 2 on that with responsible peoples side of the story . i did email w5 on the story lets see if it get a reaction oh ya and bogger i quoted some of your response hope you dont mind

 

[johndeereman346]

Goes to show how one sided the media can be

 

[Wrenchpuller]

Hey folks,
Another great example of media sensationalism. I like the way they lead us to believe that they are doing reports like these because they actually care about our safety when in reality it's for viewer numbers.
My thoughts and prayers do go out to the family members that have lost loved ones in atv accidents. I personally have lost a friend and have been involved in some pretty serious accidents involving roll/overs, trees, barb-wire fences etc. We minimize the risks not by having government tell us what is safe but by the use of common sense. IMHO, the following are lacking in such: Big quads and small kids. Not using helmets. Improper training especially for new riders. Unfamiliarity with the machine and the terrain and last but not least, lack of proper maintenace and inspection.
The W5 videos show two instances that were risky IMHO. A combination of driving in the dark, no helmet and on pavement. When you add up these risks, you get one big risk. The other video describes the gentlemen who's quad rolled and pinned him for several days. This happened because he said that his bearing seized on a front wheel. Now as a mechanic I will say that bearings in GENERAL, do not just seize out of the blue. Most times you may be able to detect noise, vibration, excessive heat upon a stationary inspection. ( heat would be after using the quad for a bit of course.) Having said that it's up to nobody else but ourselves in the end for our own safety.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe ride.