Safety with skill

[john]

Published February 1, 2007

With the tragic death of a 7-year-old who was riding a full-sized snowmachine in January at Lake Louise, the occasional debate about state regulation of young people at ATVs is bound to arise.

The same sort of reactions arise when there are accidents involving kids and other kinds of ATVs or kids and guns.

Debate is always healthy, and most people — regardless of the circumstances of the Lake Louise accident — are quick to condemn the idea that a 7-year-old would ever be astride a large snowmachine — or as the media reports labeled it, an “adult-size” machine, whatever that means. A dealership was reported as saying a child should be 16 to ride an “adult-size” snowmachine.

Just to ride the thought for a little fun, we could have kiddie-size, teen-size, adult-old-enough-to-fight-in-Iraq-but-not-drink-beer-size, petite-women’s-size, large-women’s-size, and fat-middle-aged-guy-sized machines.

Not to pick on our fellow reporters, but tripping down this road with simplified language doesn’t help, and our little exercise just shows the first hurdle in trying to regulate use of snowmachines, ATVs, motor boats, guns and other equipment — and they are equipment, not toys — for Alaskans.

Passing unenforceable rules to be ignored by Alaskans who rely on motorized wilderness travel will do little good for the safety of youngsters. It would likely only serve to bloat bureaucracy and give the state more tools to add to the punishment of the few unfortunate souls who already suffer when their children are hurt in accidents.

No, if we take any lessons from an injury to a child, let it be a frightening reminder to parents that Alaska lifestyle choices can be dangerous, and that we all need to equip ourselves and our children with the right skills and equipment when we venture outdoors.

For their part, state officials should continue to support funding for safety and education programs.

And locally, we can take part in activities sponsored by groups like the Fairbanks Snow Travelers.

Saturday, that group is sponsoring an organized trail ride from Chatanika Lodge, about 30 miles north of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway, and they will have a safety ride for children as well.

The local volunteer group has two Polaris 120 snowmachines and some helmets and will have experienced riders on hand to show kids how to ride and let them take turns on a small oval near the lodge. “A course that they basically can’t get out of,” said organizer Dean Allen. The little 120s are suitable for children aged about 4 to 10, although some 3-year-olds can manage as well.

The experts on hand can offer a safe introduction to riding for the whole family. And that’s the way it should be done, with expertise and with a mind on safety and goal of developing appropriate riding skills and techniques.

We’d rather meet a 16-year-old on the trail with a full-sized snowmachine who has been riding with parents and adult role models since he was 5 or 6 than one who has just been turned loose with a new-found freedom.

The Snow Travelers also hold an annual kids riding and safety event during their Snowmobile Rendezvous with the Corps of Engineers at Chena Lakes each March. To find out more, visit their Web site at www.snowtravelers.org, or call Dean Allen at 457-7502.