Ontario Provincial Police are sending out reminders and providing some scary statistics ahead of Snowmobile Safety Week Jan. 13 to 21.
OPP remind snowmobilers to stay off Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) trails, which remain closed. They also urge snowmobilers to stay off frozen waterways, which unseasonably mild temperatures have made particularly unpredictable and unsafe.
In the past 10 years, 158 snowmobilers did not make it home to their families in what were almost all preventable riding incidents, OPP said in a media release.
Common factors included driving too fast for conditions, alcohol/drugs and riding on unsafe frozen waterways. Some 41 per cent of fatalities were linked to alcohol/drugs and 36 per cent occurred on frozen lakes and rivers (in OPP jurisdictions).
"Safe and responsible snowmobiling means not going out if there is any doubt about whether it is safe to do so," said Rohan Thompson, deputy commissioner, OPP traffic safety and operational support.
"This cannot be overstated where frozen waterways are involved, which are never guaranteed to be 100 per cent safe. Making smart decisions before and during your ride, such as always riding sober and drug-free, is what will get you home to your family."
