The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Snowmobile Safety Snowmobiling is an exciting and popular family recreation enjoyed by over 4 million enthusiasts across North America every winter. In Canada alone there are an estimated 660,000 registered snowmobiles. With an average usage per machine of 2500 KM, this means that approximately 1.65 billion KM are ridden by these hearty soles over the short winter months each year. Needless to say, in most cases, snowmobiling is generally a very safe sport. But unfortunately on occasion this is not always so. On average over the last 5 years in Canada, approximately 95 snowmobilers have lost their lives while snowmobiling. Sadly, most of these were preventable as studies have shown that almost all snowmobile accidents result from operator error, over-confidence or inexperience. The main factors proven to contribute to snowmobile injuries and fatalities are: * Impaired riding * Excessive speed * Riding on highways/roads * Riding on ice/unfamiliar terrain * Riding after dark Education: Studies on snowmobile accidents and trauma have revealed new information on rider and machine profiles. There is no question that the individual snowmobiler is responsible for their own safety and that of others. The decision to act in a particular fashion is influenced by what that person feels the outcome will be. While the majority of snowmobilers in Canada ride on groomed and signed snowmobile trails or in the "flatlands" of Eastern Canada, a good number of western riders snowmobile in the beautifully spectacular mountain areas of the West. There are a whole different set of cautions and rules that have to be learned and adhered to by these adventurous riders especially concerning avalanches. Like any other safety training and more-so for this particular unique snowmobile training, one should go to the experts. Enforcement: Generally people's actions are governed by rewards or feeling good about doing something. If those actions are unrewarding, punishing or don't feel good; they will tend to avoid them. Unfortunately information, education and peer pressure is not always enough to make some people act in a "safe sensible manner". Hence comes another behavioural motivation that is being incorporated into snowmobiling in a unique fashion - enforcement. Infrastructure: It is a proven fact that snowmobiling on well-maintained organized snowmobile trails is the safest place to ride. Over the last 5 years in Canada less than 20% of the snowmobile fatalities have occurred on recognized snowmobile trails with the remaining 80% being off-trail. It is most interesting to note that probably 80% of the total number of kilometers ridden each year by snowmobilers occurs on maintained club trails vs about 20% off-trail riding. Very clearly from a safety perspective there are two messages here: 1. more improved snowmobile trails should be built to provide a safer riding environment 2. more snowmobilers should be encouraged to use this safer environment Remember, that when it comes to snowmobile safety; ultimately, you are the one responsible for your own safety as well as others. So please: KNOW FEAR! VS NO FEAR!
