Children under 16 will be banned from operating four wheelers in NB

SwampDonkey · November 29, 2006, 11:57:51 AM

[clip from CBC website]

The New Brunswick government is going to ban anyone under the age of 16 from operating all-terrain vehicles following the deaths of two children in separate accidents this month and the serious injury of a teenager on Sunday.
[snip]

One was a 10 year old boy near Glassville, another was a 13 year old girl in Moncton and a third with serious head injury was a 17 year old boy in Greenfield who lost control of the bike on a road. Glassville and Greenfield are not far from my place, in the same county.

Let's be careful out there.

Fla._Deadheader · November 29, 2006, 12:29:25 PM

I know some 30+ year olds that should be banned. Gonna make some widows if they don't calm down. :

:

thurlow · November 29, 2006, 12:31:33 PM

Go ahead and push my buttons; my blood pressure needed a little boost anyway. I'm about a half mile from the city limits; 3 miles from town "proper", about 7500 souls. Live on a 2-lane country blacktop with a modicum amount of traffic. Several kids (8-12 years old) who live 3 or 4 miles further out use the road as a play station; 2 on a medium size 4-wheeler and another one (or 2) on a small dirt bike. They musta went by here 30 times Saturday and Sunday; going as fast as they'll go. Local sheriff's department won't do anything about it; only a matter time before some of 'em are killed. :(

SwampDonkey · November 29, 2006, 12:37:50 PM

Quote from: Fla._Deadheader on November 29, 2006, 12:29:25 PM

I know some 30+ year olds that should be banned. Gonna make some widows if they don't calm down. : :

My brother is one of them, although he's calmed down now.

Every time he bought a wheeler or snow mobile, it was destroyed within a year. 4 snow mobiles, 2 motorbikes, 1 Yamaha Quad, 3 cars.... all within 5 years :

Famous last words: 'Oh, I take care of my stuff'

:

sawguy21 · November 29, 2006, 12:39:23 PM

This is too common and no amount of legislation will make up for the kids poor decision making skills or indifference and lack of supervision from parents.The law will not apply on private property so will have little effect.
About a year and a half ago, a toddler was killed and her 3 year old brother injured when the atv being driven by their father overturned on a trail in Alberta. :'(

farmerdoug · November 29, 2006, 12:44:11 PM

Around here you cannot legally operate an dirt bike or ATV on the road either but with little enforcement of the law they do every day here. So if there is no enforcement of the new law it will not save lives just fine the owners after the accident. :

Farmerdoug

Sawyerfortyish · December 02, 2006, 02:58:37 AM

Live and learn. Take it from me I have the road rash scars to prove it. The only way kids learn is by trial and error. It seemed like every time I took my dirt bike or 3 wheeler out on pavment I would pass one of the town cops. The chief(a neighbor)never chased me he would just be sitting at mom and dads table having coffee when I got back. Then I'd have to listen to him scream and yell and slam his fist on the table at me I didn't learn. One day in a place I shouldn't been going to fast on a dirt road I hit a hump in the road went airborn and side swiped a tree I still have the scars I learned. Today I have a great respect for dirt bikes and atv's slow and easy!
What I see here today is every one is trying to beat the neighbor bigger is better. People don't use there heads anymore you wouldn't put a 10yr old behind the wheel of a car why give them a snowmobile, dirt bike or atv that'll go 80-100mph or more.

Cedarman · December 02, 2006, 07:48:15 AM

Which law makes more sense? All guns and ammunition must be locked up. Or, If someone uses your gun to cause injury, death or damage, you will be liable to fines and/or jail time.

If the law stated that, If your ATV causes injury to the rider or bystander, then the owner is liable, wouldn't that reduce the problem.

Parents must be responsible for the actions of their children. They must be responsible for their own actions.

I know, I know, I am spitting in the wind. People never want to be responsible for their own actions. It is always the other persons fault.

Lets eliminate all ATV accidents. The law will now read. All ATV's will be confiscated and ownership made illegal. No use of ATV's for any reason is allowed. We must reduce injury and death to zero.

Fla._Deadheader · December 02, 2006, 08:10:02 AM

Cedarman, it's obvious you ain't in the Redneck south. THEM is fightin words. :

;D :D :D :D :D

Cedarman · December 02, 2006, 08:15:56 AM

Hmmmm. Maybe my sarcasm didn't show through well enough. :D :D

pigman · December 02, 2006, 09:53:16 AM

Quote from: Sawyerfortyish on December 02, 2006, 02:58:37 AM
...... One day in a place I shouldn't been going to fast on a dirt road I hit a hump in the road went airborn and side swiped a tree I still have the scars I learned. ......................
. People don't use there heads anymore .

Sounds to me the kids today are the same as you were when you were young. ;) :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Bob

sawguy21 · December 02, 2006, 10:00:54 AM

:D :D :D I was lucky to survive my childhood too.

PineNut · December 02, 2006, 10:28:08 PM

I believe most of us were lucky to survive.

JJackson · December 03, 2006, 10:18:03 PM

One thing that I do see is kids that are operating machines that are way to big for them. Saw a 8 year old kid driving an one of the largest polaris machines made, feet barely hung off the seat, not an adult in sight. Or you see kids and a adult on one machine made for a single rider. No helmets on machines that go 60mph. I guess natural selection does occur but why take the kids to. I personaly ride alot, mostly old road, trail and sand dunes. ATVs are a great tool and lots of fun but must be used resonsibly.

slowzuki · December 04, 2006, 09:26:41 AM

I'm not sure what they define as atv here in NB but I got my first snowmobile at maybe 13 or 14 but it would only go 25 mph or so since it was old, and the three wheelers we had were honda 90's and such so not much faster. I once got onto the back of a Yamaha Phazer 477 (snowmobile) that the girl next door had and she took me down the river and scarred the tar outta me. I got off and asked how fast she was going and she said 140 km/h (I think thats 90 mph). Even in the open we coulda been killed hitting a pressure ridge or something in the river.

I'm sure these newer atv's with huge motors can go pretty fast too, my friends whose parents had big atv's simply put hose clamps on the range shifters so they couldn't get them out of low range. We were pretty well behaved with them, mostly just getting them stuck in deep mud. Not so much fast driving.

Scott · December 04, 2006, 04:23:29 PM

I had a Yamaha Big Bear 350 since I was in grade 8. I put more than 12,000 kilometeres on it in four years. The worst injury I got was a slice on my hand from a frayed winchline. Big deal.
My parents only let me drive around the house at first. Later, as I became familiar with the machine, I was allowed to go out with friends.
As long as you know your machine and use your head out there you shouldn't get hurt. Its like anything else really.

beenthere · December 04, 2006, 05:31:47 PM

Quote from: Scott on December 04, 2006, 04:23:29 PM
..................
As long as you know your machine and use your head out there you ...................

But that is likely the problem.......so many don't know "their machine" and are in the 'learning' stage, and hopefully make it through without being killed. I don't think the answer is 'take the toy away from them' as they just prolong the time when they want to find out how far or fast they can go. Maturity is in their favor if they get old enough. But in the meantime, they've missed a lot of fun. Dangerous yes, Fun - DanG right ;D

Look at the thread about the helicopter with the hanging sawblades below. Don't think that pilot isn't seeking the thrills and the pay that goes with the risk. Dumb? I wouldn't do it, but I don't tightrope, or jump outta airplanes, or ski jump, or ......the list goes on and on.. ;D