Number of ATV-related deaths in N.B. has remained stable over the years

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By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff

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Although fatalities are a rare consequence of driving all-terrain vehicles in New Brunswick, those involved with the sport's enforcement and compliance are hoping ATV enthusiasts learn from the province's tragedies.

"From the RCMP's perspective, we're saying to people, look, it's a beautiful sport and we do have a beautiful country, but drive these things with the utmost respect," said Bob Theriault, traffic services co-ordinator with RCMP in Fredericton. "A lot of these ATV accidents, they're just needless. People need to pay a little more attention, slow down and avoid the scenario and mishaps would be avoided. But at the same time, they can happen easily."

Theriault says thus far in 2008, five people have been killed in New Brunswick while driving ATVs. The latest came this past weekend when 38-year-old Michel Martin was killed after he collided with a chain that was erected on private property just outside Rogersville.

By comparison, there were seven ATV related fatalities in each of the past three years and four in 2004.

While the number of fatalities has remained steady throughout the years, Public Safety Minister John Foran says the sport has also increased in popularity and more people are riding as compared to several years ago.

He also believes the province's Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement Unit, which has been patrolling the province since March, is a big step towards making the sport safer.

"They are doing what I believe is a tremendous job, but it's very early to tell what kind of an impact it's going to have. We don't have a crystal ball to look at that if they hadn't of been there, there would have been x number of injuries or deaths," Foran said. "I feel that they are making an impact, I really do, but how do you judge that? We don't have a crystal ball to show what would have happened if they weren't there."

Foran says he's received a lot of positive feedback about the enforcement group, which is comprised of 13 officers who are stationed in six areas across the province and seek to educate and enforce New Brunswick's Off-Road Vehicle Act.

"One of the big things is the enforcement and public education is also a big thing. These officers are working throughout the province of New Brunswick as we speak and we're getting good feedback from the federations and good feedback from officials. It's well received, the awareness is out there and they are doing their jobs," Foran said.

Jacques Poirier, general manager of the New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation, says the province has been a good partner with stakeholders in the off-road industry in trying to make the sport as safe as possible for everyone.

He says he'd like to see the number of ATV fatalities in the province decrease, but considering the number of people who ride, he's not shocked that fatal accidents haven't yet been curbed.

"I can't say you're not going to see zero (people killed on ATV's in a year) -- but that's almost impossible. But if you look at the same side from the automobile side of it, you can't say that you're going to eliminate all traffic accidents in a year, there's still going to be a number of them happening," Poirier said. "The main thing is to try to reduce what we're seeing right now."

Poirier says in cases where an incident takes place on private property, speed is often a factor, as ATV riders try to get off private land as quickly as possible as they drive from point A to point B. He believes further designation of roads and Crown land for ATV use could lower the number of fatalities seen each year.

"Some of the accidents could be avoided if we could get the access that we are trying to get, which would essentially reduce the speed they are traveling," he said.

Meanwhile, the province is working on ironing out the details of the regulations for age-appropriate vehicles for young teen riders and their restrictions for those under the age of 14.

Foran says the regulations, which were passed in legislature last June, are expected to be finalized sometime this fall.