Yellowknife (Nov 29/04) - A recent report from the Canadian Paediatric Society that recommends national safety guidelines and graduated licensing for snowmobilers has met with an icy response from Yellowknife teens.

"There's not much to do in Yellowknife already, so why take away more?" asked 15-year-old Alexa Lindberg, an avid rider for the past two years.

It's an integral part of living in the North and kids will just ride either way, she said. "Why make more work for the police?"

The operation of snowmachines by anyone under the age 16 is inappropriate, the CPS report states. Furthermore, the report calls for a graduated licensing process, that withholds full privileges until a snowmobiler is 18.

"I think that's lame," said Katrina Stiopu. She said she believes that by the age of 14 people are strong and mature enough to handle a snowmachine.

Stiopu is 14 and started riding a small Kitty Kat snowmobile when she was five.

"I know lots of kids who drive at 10, so a licence at 14 is good," she said.

Nationwide, an average of four young people under the age of 16 die yearly in snowmobile accidents, the CPS report indicates.

"We know that snowmobile injuries as a whole are the leading cause of injury from winter sports," said Dr. Robin Walker, president of CPS.

Younger snowmobilers are also more likely to be involved in serious accidents and fatalities, he explained.

For NWT's chief coroner, the recommendation is long overdue.

"I think we need comprehensive snowmachine legislation here in the North," said Percy Kinney.

Each year, NWT residents are killed in snowmobile accidents.

"There are a few (deaths) every year that are related to either direct head trauma from not wearing a helmet, or falling through the ice, or the machine breaking down and the rider dying from exposure," he said.

Age is not necessarily a determining factor in Kinney's opinion, however.

"I'm not as concerned about age as I am concerned about being able to handle the machine and having the competency to do so."

Doug Witty, general manager for Force One, agrees.

"It's more about safety, training and supervision than it is about age," he said.

Smaller machines are designed specifically with younger people in mind. Young children need to be on the proper machines, he explained.

Out of a couple hundred snowmobile sales a year, only a very small percentage are child-appropriate machines, he said.

"The (sale of) actual machines for kids nine and under is about 10 a year."

The sale of Indy 340s, which he said are appropriate for kids nine to 14, is even less than that.

Although attainable speeds have not increased significantly in the 17 years Witty has been in the business, the increased stability makes it easier to drive the bigger machines faster.

"It's no different than putting a young person into a sports car," he said.

Currently, Yellowknife is one of the only areas in the NWT with speed limits and bylaws in place to limit the use of snowmobiles.

No person under 12 years old can operate a snowmachine on a highway or in the city.

Those between 12 and 15, who have been issued a Snowmobile Safety Course Certificate, must be under the supervision of an adult who has a valid driver's licence and safety certification.

The same restrictions apply to anyone over 15 without a valid driver's licence.

The City's Municipal Enforcement Division (MED), which enforces the snowmobile bylaws, suggested that the privilege of ridership within city limits could be further limited if people flaunt the rules.

"Sometimes we have got to be less tolerant," Const. Doug Norrad said. "Other people are ruining it for the good guys."

Young riders tend not to be the main offenders, said MED manager Doug Gillard. They are mainly stopped for being without supervision. "They tend not to be the ones out speeding."

No changes are currently being discussed, said Mayor Gord Van Tighem. "We have very liberal allowances for snowmobiles within municipal boundaries," he said.