While we applaud the introduction of a law requiring the use of helmets on off-highway vehicles (OHVs), the province should have gone the extra step and extended the helmet requirement to riding OHVs on private land.
The topic of a helmet law has been tossed around for over a decade now in Alberta, being championed at different times by various safety groups, snowmobile and ATV clubs, and the odd politician.
It seems like a no-brainer, really. In the majority of OHV-related fatalities, the riders who die from head injuries are almost invariably not wearing a helmet.
But the ruling Progressive Conservatives always seemed hesitant to impose such a restriction. Perhaps it was due to perceived difficulties in enforcing the law, or just the fact that Albertans are generally resistant to government meddling.
Love them or hate them, the election of the NDP means that such a law could finally become reality. It’s just unfortunate that they decided to place so many exemptions on it.
After all, the proposed law only applies to OHVs on public land. If you’re on private land, or you’re doing farming and ranching work, or if you’re on a First Nations reserve, it doesn’t apply to you.
Now, you’ll likely argue that enforcing a law like this on private land or among farmers is impossible.
You’re absolutely right.
But the value of a law like this is partially symbolic. If and when it’s passed, police aren’t going to start roaming around in the back country handing out tickets to helmetless ATV-users.
But it’s the idea that you could be fined for not wearing a helmet that might persuade a few reckless individuals to stick a helmet on and potentially save their lives.
For instance, it’s currently the law that children under 18 must wear helmets while riding bikes. We can tell you from personal experience, however, that no child ever gets handed a ticket for not wearing a helmet; at most, they get a stern warning.
The idea here is simply to promote safety awareness. By establishing so many exemptions in their helmet law, the NDP have essentially made the whole thing worthless.
