Playing it Safe When Off Roading
Friday, July 12, 2013 @ 4:20 AM
Prince George, B.C. – As the use of ATVs and UTVs (side by sides) grows in popularity, so do the number of injuries and death associated with these vehicles.
According to data from the BC Coroners Service, between 2006 and 2011 ( the latest year for which stats are available) there have been 78 fatalities in B.C. related to the off road machines. Nearly half of those fatalities (33) occurred in the northern region:
|
Year
|
Number of deaths in North
|
|
2006
|
10
|
|
2007
|
4
|
|
2008
|
7
|
|
2009
|
10
|
|
2010
|
1
|
|
2011
|
1
|
|
AVERAGE
|
5.5
|
Since May of this year, there have been three such fatalities in the “northern”region.
- May 5th, a 28 year old woman died when the ATV she was riding rolled over on her on Jardine Road at Cluculz Lake
- May13th, a 30 year old Prince Rupert man died when his ATV flipped on top of him while crossing a washed out section of a forest service road
- July 1, a young man died when the UTV he was driving rolled over near Tumbler Ridge.
There had also been a fatal incident near Hope on the July long weekend which claimed the life of a 27 year old woman.
You may recall that last August, a 42 year old Prince George man died when the ATV he was riding rolled on a hill behind the Hart Wheel Inn.
No agency is able to provide accurate information on the number of injuries related to use of the vehicles, but anecdotal information suggests hospitals and health care centres throughout the north are called upon regularly to deal with broken bones and lacerations associated with the use of the off road vehicles.
Currently, the only regulations in place covering the use of off road vehicles come into play when the vehicle is being operated on a Forest Service Road. In such cases, the driver must have a valid drivers licence , wear an approved helmet and carry $200 thousand dollars liability insurance.
While there has been draft legislation developed, user groups are still reviewing those proposed regulations and there is no indication any legislation will be passed any time soon.
Prince George RCMP Traffic Services Sergeant Al Steinhauser says there are some simple things all riders can do to reduce the risk of injury, enjoy the use of their off road machines and come home safely. One of the key messages is to plan ahead and know your vehicle “Before heading out, check the vehicle, the tires the chassis, electrical systems, the winch because that winch may be your last resort to getting out of a mess”.
Sgt. Steinhauser says since off road vehicles will float, riders need to make sure they know the depth of the water before attempting to cross any creeks, rivers or streams “Waterways have current and will move the vehicle downstream, so the rule of thumb is not to enter any waterway if the depth of the water is higher than half the height of the tires. It’s also important to remember that you know the terrain you are planning to travel because if you are heading down a decommissioned forest road at mach 10, you will hit a dugout on a decommissioned road.”
Knowing the terrain can also be helpful in the event of a vehicle breakdown, he reminds riders that every hour of driving into the backwoods, equals an 8-10 hour walk out. As for challenging hills, Sgt. Steinhauser says manufacturers guidelines advise against attempting any incline that is over 15 degrees, steeper inclines pose increased risk of a roll over. ATVs don’t have a roll cage, and while UTVs do, they can only be protective if the occupants are also wearing the seatbelts that are in a UTV.
Wearing the proper gear, such as a helmet, ankle supporting footwear, long pants , long sleeved shirts or jackets, will prevent injury from twigs or branches that snap back.
The stats from the Coroners Service also indicate alcohol, drugs or a combination of both , were factors in 60.3% of the fatalities that occurred from 2006 to 2011. “It’s all common sense” says Sgt. Steinhauser, “but no matter how hard we try, that’s something we just can’t teach.”
Comments
Something else that the article doesn’t mention is inexperience too many people out there don’t really understand the power or speed of the 4 wheelers or PWC I have encountered way to many people in the back country that think they know how to ride their machines when in reality they don’t I am a strong supporter of people taking accredited off road courses to properly understand how to use their equipment.
So many injuries and deaths can be averted with proper training
Gee, and I thought it was highly illegal to drive in or across creeks, rivers or streams with any vehicle except a boat. Thanks Al.
Some people just like to spoil all the fun. I don’t think we need new rules for recreational vehicles. Everyone knows the risks of having fun and that sometimes people are going to get hurt. That is part of living life.
As for the 15%. We have highways in BC with greater than 15% grade. Lilloeet to Pemberton is one, and another is the road to Tofino has a 18% grade. Try lifting off on that in a snow storm…. Cranbrook Hill is 12% for comparisons.
Not a lot of spots left where you can feel real freedom, how did we become this dictator state?
As long as people continue to kill and injure themselves and others on these machines, you can bet the government is looking at more stringent rules for ATV/UTV use and operation.
Like Dearth noted, I think people need training on how to operate these machines.
Playing it Safe is: Driving down the middle of the Road I live on around a blind Corner
in your 4Wheeler and a Car is heading your Way. Some never get it until to late!
Playing it Safe is: Driving down the middle of the Road I live on around a blind Corner
in your 4Wheeler and a Car is heading your Way. Some never get it until to late!
Playing it Safe is: Driving down the middle of the Road I live on around a blind Corner
in your 4Wheeler and a Car is heading your Way. Some never get it until to late!
One Logout, 3 Postings , Gremlins in the System ? Not on my End , no let see if it will do it again, maybe not if I’am lucky.
Don’t hit refresh Outwest.
No training, regulations or safety can factor out the Darwin factor. People pull themselves out of the gene pool all the time.
ATV training! Really? Push on this you go…..push on this you stop. If you go too fast you could crash. If you turn too fast you could crash. Do not drive where you wouldn’t walk. Start with reading the manual.
More people are killed/injured operating their cars or just walking down the street.
Regulating/taxing everything to death we humans do for fun will not change a damn thing.
Common sense is the lacking factor.
“you can bet the government is looking at more stringent rules for ATV/UTV use and operation”
The only reason the govt would be looking at anything is to relieve people of their money.
I think many posters on this site should consider joining the Libertarian Party of Canada.
http://www.libertarian.ca
Dragon: “The only reason the govt would be looking at anything is to relieve people of their money.”
You’re right about money. The cost to the medical system to take care of all the injuries is skyrocketing. Somebody has to pay. Either offload them to Jane or Joe Taxpayer or make ATV/UTV users kick in some of the cost by insuring themselves.
I’m sure people had the same type of reaction when the government started licensing cars and trucks.
I know a guy who was doing the ATV safety training for companies. I suspect it has more to do with liability issues and Worksafe compliance than actual safety. Its really a joke if youve spent any time on an ATV. Passing the safety course makes you about as ready for four wheeling as getting your “N” makes you ready to drive in traffic ;)
You’re right intereptor. All the training in the world doesn’t replace common sense. Some ATV courses are a joke and some are better. You have to start somewhere, imo. People have proven they can’t police themselves.
A course for work is different than any other course.
In fact, the WorkSafeBC regs state that one is not allowed to ride an ATV on a slope greater than 5%. Anything above that needs a written procedure to be followed.
There are no courses required to ride an ATV and UTV. Many people think that UTV’s are like golf carts. Which is fine. If one thinks that, then picture a golf course and stay on a golf course type terrain.
How about NASCAR racers? That is a self policing situation. Professionals do not appreciate driving with un-trained and inexperienced drivers since they are a hazard on the track that can kill others.
Greater than 5% slope and your not supposed to ride on it?? That just goes to show you how ridiculous they can be when writing these regulations.
What they are failing to tell you is a lot of these injuries are due to the massive trenches they call de-activations or water bars these days. I have pictures of one road we frequent, with massive boulders blocking the road and 30 foot deep de-activations…over 100 huge ditches in 10 K of road. Some of them 4 feet deep on perfectly flat ground.
Jim try walking down that road, there is a concept.
I enjoy biking and ATV’s. It still surprises me that people choose to ride these things without helmets. I see it all the time…..young and old.
Lets start with helmets and see where the stats are in a few years.
Greater than 5% slope and your not supposed to ride on it??
Read the next sentence. You can ride on 5% or less without any special knowledge of how to handle an ATV on a slope. In other words, up to 5% is the same as flat ground.
Beyond that you have to follow the manual, which typically limits it to something like 20 to 25% grade. If there is no mention in the manual, then you can make your own written work procedure of how to ride an ATV on a steeper slope.
This is to try to get the people using it at work to put their minds to how to ride an ATV safely in the bush.
Remember, this is uphill, downhill, cross slope, riding over a rock, a small diameter log which will all increase that effective slope of the machine with the horizontal plane and can lead to tipping/rollover, especially when traversing a slope. Speed will also increase the effect when driving over an object.
If individuals would just respect each other and act responsible life would be so much better for all… As such its the minority that plays havic with the rest and as such rules must be brought forward so we can at least limit the number of DARWIN Awards present each year…. and the sorrow felt by the ones left behind cause its gonna happen again we just can’t teach common sense….
Jim try walking down that road, there is a concept.
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I don’t know about you but we buy atv’s to ride…if we wanted to walk we’d buy a chevy pickup. ;-)
Guess the deactivated road is doing what it is supposed to do. Lots of other roads
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