ATV helmet laws would be ignored: Yukon health minister

The Yukon government is refusing to consider a helmet law for all-terrain vehicle riders, arguing that people would probably ignore such legislation anyway.

The topic came up Thursday in the Yukon legislature, when NDP MLA Steve Cardiff said nearly 100 Yukoners have been injured in ATV accidents over a recent two-year period.

"Of those who definitely were not wearing helmets, one died, one had a broken neck, and three had scalp or facial injuries," Cardiff said in the legislature.

The New Democrats also pointed to a recent report by Dr. Brendan Hanley, the territory's medical health officer, who said Yukon men are three times more likely to die in a traumatic accident than other Canadians.

But when Cardiff suggested a mandatory helmet law for ATV riders, in an effort to help lower the death toll, Health Minister Brad Cathers said there is no point in passing legislation that cannot be enforced.

"Simply making a law would not prevent someone from choosing not to wear a helmet," Cathers said.

"There are a lot of Yukoners — particularly in rural Yukon — who, if told that they must wear a helmet, would not chose to do so."

While Cathers noted that the Yukon Workers' Compensation, Health and Safety Board recently changed its regulations, requiring workers to wear helmets if they are operating an ATV on the job, he said the government has no plans to force similar regulations on recreational users.

"I think the most effective strategy is exactly what's being pursued: providing people with the information on the number of injuries that can occur, and reminding them that it is up to each and every one of us to take that personal responsibility to wear the appropriate safety equipment," he said.

Cardiff said motorcycle riders are already required to wear helmets. Cyclists in Whitehorse also have to wear helmets, according to a city bylaw.