STRONGER off-road laws could have prevented or reduced more than half of injuries reported among young drivers and passengers of all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles in Manitoba, according to a new report.
The study by the injury prevention centre of Winnipeg's Children's Hospital analyzed 160 injury reports involving children under 16 from 1999 to 2003. Of those injuries, 85 were caused by all-terrain vehicles and 75 were caused by snowmobiles.
The Canadian Paediatric Society is calling on the government to change Manitoba's off-road vehicle laws to prohibit kids under 16 from driving off-road vehicles and to limit when they can be passengers.
Data for Manitoba showed 40 per cent of the off-road vehicle injuries occurred while the child was driving and 27 per cent happened to the passenger.
The Off-Road Vehicle Injury in Manitoba report has yet to be reviewed by the provincial government.
"We are looking forward to obtaining a copy of the report, at which time we will consider what the report is advising" said Diane DeKock, spokesperson for Department of Infrastructure and Transportation.
Off-road rules
* Those under 14 year are not allowed to operate off-road vehicles unless supervised by an adult.
zTransporting more passengers than a machine is made for is forbidden.
zHelmets are required for all operators and passengers, except for the purpose of work or machines with rollover protection.
Recommendations
zSnowmobiles and ATVs should not be operated by children under age 16.
zChildren should never ride as passengers on ATVs.
zChildren under 6 should not ride as passengers on snowmobiles.
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