Partnership takes ATV riders to TASK
By Chelsey Romain
Timmins Daily Press
September 5, 2008

With great power comes great responsibility. The same applies when that power comes from the engine of a powerful all-terrain vehicle.

With that in mind, along with the increasing popularity of ATVs in the North, several community partners have joined forces to create the Timmins ATV Safety Kinship (TASK).

Together the Ministry of Transportation, Timmins Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, National ATV Schools, Timmins Community Safety Committee, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Porcupine Health Unit are spreading the message about the importance of riding safe while on ATV trails.

"Operating an ATV is a fun, pleasurable activity, but certain rules and safe guards must be followed," said health unit public health nurse René Morin. "The TASK force has one vision and one goal to promote ATV safety in the Timmins area through public education and awareness campaigns."

Through numbers gathered from provincial and municipal policing services in Ontario, already in 2008 there have been 16 deaths as a result of ATV use.

In Timmins alone, there have been five collisions and one fatality.

"The problem with ATV collisions is they happen so far from medical facilities and that's what makes them more serious," said OPP Const. Marc Depatie.

Jeff Griffith, MTO regional planner for the Northern region road safety marketing office, said snowmobiles used to sell more than ATVs, but it was a trend that reversed in 2004. By 2005 there were more than 290,000 ATVs operating in Ontario.

"It's fair to say the ATV industry has experienced tremendous growth, sadly enough with this tremendous growth came an increase in ATV deaths," Griffith said. "And what's alarming is the number of young people that have been killed so far this year, almost half the total fatalities."

Griffith said he hopes with groups like TASK, riders, regardless of their age or skill level, will be provided with effective strategies to reduce the injuries and fatalities caused by collisions.

Julien Comtois is owner and lead instructor at National ATV Schools which operates out of Timmins. During Wednesday's launch of the force, Comtois said he hopes a change in behaviour will make the difference.

"We hope to give people the knowledge and the skill to avoid these collisions altogether," Comtois said. "It's exciting and fun, but the balance is to have safe practices.
"We need to protect our communities, the people we love."

Both the OPP and Timmins Police Service have officers who ride the trails on ATVs on the lookout for those breaking laws or who have been in a collision. Depatie said both services are ready to react to the growing trend.

"Together we're proud and invigorated members of TASK and it's our obligation to make the trails as safe as possible," Depatie said.

According to police, the biggest threats while riding the trails include high speeds, riding without a helmet, consuming alcohol and driving beyond a person's skill level.

"These are highly predictable and preventable collisions," Depatie said. "Police share the burden along with the public, but it should fall on the shoulders of ATV operators themselves to be a responsible operator."