ATV helmet laws sought by MLAs

Two Alberta MLAs are planning to push the province to bring in ATV helmet legislation.

Liberal Darshan Kang of Calgary-McCall and Conservative George Vanderberg of Whitecourt-Ste. Anne both plan to bring forward motions during this legislative session to require quad-riders to protect their heads.

Kang said the province hasn't done enough to prevent ATV injuries and deaths.

The transportation minister promised to introduce helmet legislation in 2008, but so far nothing has come of it.

"They keep on doing studies and studies and studies, right? And then the minister seems to sit on it, and nothing really comes out quickly," said Kang.

According to the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research, 100 Albertans died in ATV accidents over a seven-year period.

Sixty-five of them were not wearing a helmet.

"The studies that have come out of the States where they have widely varying helmet legislation is that you can cut about 50 per cent of your fatalities every year if you institute helmet laws," said Dr. Don Voaklander, the centre's director.

"So it really can save a lot of deaths and major trauma."

Brent Hodgson, president of the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association, said his group has been pushing for helmet use for years.

It was even involved in a government committee studying the idea, said Hodgson.

"On competitive events, of course it's mandatory. It has to be there," said Hodgson.

"It's the weekend recreation rider that is being injured in actions without a helmet. So this is the group that that would target. It's just better and safer, and most jurisdictions in North America have mandatory helmet laws."

Alberta is one of the last provinces in the country without a mandatory helmet law.