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Snowmobile Safety Tips

Defensive Driving

• Never ride alone.
• Always be on the alert for potential danger. Your helmet and engine noise will impair your hearing. Your visibility will be reduced during a snowfall, with snow gusts and in the darkness of the night.
• When approaching an intersection, come to a complete stop, raise in your seat and look for traffic.
• Keep headlights and tail lights on at all times.
• Never ride on a street or highway.
• Stay on marked trails or ride where permitted, on the right shoulder of the road.
• Never make assumptions about what other snowmobilers will do. Do all that you can to ensure your safety and that of other riders. Expect the unexpected!
• Ride at a reasonable speed and watch out for:
  • Thin ice and open water
  • Grooming equipment
  • Oncoming snowmobiles
  • Unforeseen obstacles beneath snow (look for depressions in the snow)
  • Unexpected corners, intersections and stops
  • Road and railway crossings
  • Logging and forestry operations
  • Snow banks and drifting snow
  • Trees and branches on the trail
  • Bridges and approaches
  • Fences and low strung wires
  • Wildlife and domestic animals
  • Other trail users (skiers, hikers)

Don’t Drink and Ride

Alcohol is a factor in more than 70 per cent of snowmobiling fatalities. It increases your susceptibility to cold and hypothermia. Your reaction time, perception, ability to control your sled and response to unexpected situations can be drastically affected as well.

Snowmobilers may be riding in remote locations miles away from help. If a situation should occur where help is needed, chances of survival and treatment of injury are at risk. Don't let alcohol be a contributing factor to your fate.

Night Riding

A disproportionate number of snowmobiling incidents, including nine out of ten fatalities, occur after dark. Forward visibility is reduced by darkness and it is much more difficult to spot and identify potential hazards in time. Overdriving headlights can also be a serious problem, so slow down when snowmobiling after dark. Becoming disoriented or lost is much more likely at night. Ride with individuals familiar with the area. Always wear outer clothing with reflective trim on the arms, back and helmet. Never ride alone at night. Always dress in your full snowmobiling outfit even if your intended destination is just next door. Many accidents happen close to home. Be certain that all lights are operational and keep in mind that hand signals become increasingly more difficult to see as darkness sets in.

Ice Riding

Drowning is one of the leading causes of snowmobile fatalities. Wherever possible, avoid riding on frozen lakes and rivers because ice conditions are never guaranteed.
Ice conditions can change in a period of several hours. If you must cross ice, stay on the packed or marked trail. Don't stop until you reach shore. If you hit slush, don't let off the throttle. If you are following someone who hits slush, veer off to make your own path. It’s best never to operate in a single file when crossing frozen bodies of water.

If you must travel over lakes and rivers then consider using a buoyant snowmobile suit which will assist you to reach the closest ice surface. Also consider carrying a set of picks which will help you grip the edge of the ice more easily. As a rule of thumb, "If you don't know, don't go."

If you do break through the ice, don't panic. Follow these tips:

• Kick vigorously into a horizontal position and swim to the nearest ice edge. Place hands or arms on unbroken ice while kicking hard to propel your body onto the ice, like a seal.
• Once clear, stay flat and roll away to stronger ice.
• Stand, keep moving and find shelter fast.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia, the lowering of the body’s core temperature, can happen in water or on land. It does not require extreme cold and accelerates with wind and wetness. Dressing warmly in water-resistant layers helps, but if immersed, quickly replace wet clothes, keep moving to generate body heat, and find immediate shelter and warmth.

Snow Blindness

This occurs when direct and reflecting sun glare are too bright for the eyes. Riding without good quality, UV-protected sunglasses, goggles or a visor can cause permanent damage.

Frostbite

Frostbite results from freezing temperatures and poor circulation and mostly affects extremities and exposed skin. Watch out for unnaturally white and numb skin surrounded by extreme redness. Cover up and dress in layers, making sure that socks fit loosely within your boots. Mitts with liners are warmer than gloves.
Always check the weather conditions before you depart.

Wind Chill

Wind chill is a lower temperature caused by wind and/or the forward momentum of a fast moving sled. Wind chill exposes you to severe cold that can cause hypothermia. Wind-proof outer garments, extra layers and a balaclava will offer some protection, but keep your face shield down to prevent wind burn and to protect your skin and eyes.

What to Wear

With high-tech winter wear and proper layering, winter comfort is easy. Start with polypropylene and thermal under layers that release moisture while retaining heat.
Add other heat retentive layers depending on the temperature. Avoid cottons and sweat shirts which retain moisture, making you cold and clammy and can lead to hypothermia.

Good snowmobile wear contains materials that retain heat, release moisture and resist both water and wind. Try to find suits that are water and windproof. Wear a buoyant snowmobile suit if you are travelling across ice.

Snowmobile suits should have reflective trim for night riding. Carry extra clothing, socks and mitts for layering. A helmet and face shield combat cold and hazards, while waterproof, insulated boots and leather snowmobile mitts provide warmth and protection.

Snowmobile Care

Always keep your snowmobile in top mechanical condition. When snowmobiling, you may be in remote areas and far from immediate help so it’s essential to bring along a basic repair and emergency kit. The kit should contain these items:

• spare belt
• spare spark plugs
• manufacturer's tool kit
• extra wrenches
• nuts and bolts sized for your sled
• tow rope
• pry bar
• duct tape
• wire
• jack-knife or pocket knife
• flare
• flashlight
• matches
• first aid kit
• cell phone (although it may have limited service range in some areas)