Kids on Atvs: Novia Scotia's tough-love approach

Nova Scotia has cracked down on ATV use on children under 14, bowing to "intense pressure to toughen proposed legislation" according to an online report in Canada's globe and mail. Under the revised admendments the story says children under 14 will be able to drive ATV's but only on closed courses, under direct parental supervision and with a trainned first-responder/parametic on site. Children will also have to wear proctective gear, take a trainning course, operate a smaller machine appropriate to their age, and the person watching them will have to complete safety trainning course. In the wake of the October 2005 deaths of two teenage Halifax girls and Canada's substantially increasing ATV Fatality statistics, the concession by politicians and lawmakers is a postive step in the right direction - despite criticism from Liberal Leader rancis MacKenzie, whose party the paper say was " the only one to lobby for an all out ban on use by Children under 14." The paper also states that the admendments will also limit the areas where off highway vechiles can operate.