January, 2001

Enjoy a safe sledding season

With several months left in this year’s snowmobiling season, SGI is reminding snowmobilers to ride safely and responsibly.

"Snowmobiling has become one of the province’s most popular winter activities. Unfortunately, there is the potential for serious injury," says Shannon Ell, SGI’s Supervisor of Traffic Safety Promotion. "The good news is that riders can reduce their chances of being injured or killed in a crash by following a few simple rules and using common sense."

Safety experts agree that one of the easiest ways to avoid serious injury in the event of a snowmobile crash is to always wear a helmet. According to Saskatchewan’s Snowmobile Act, all snowmobile operators and passengers must wear a helmet.

As well, the Act states that in addition to being supervised, children 12 to 15 years of age must complete a safety course before being allowed to operate a snowmobile in public areas.

Offered through the Saskatchewan Safety Council, the Snowmobile Safety course teaches strategies to prevent snowmobile collisions and the know-how necessary for survival on trails. The first part of the course consists of classroom instruction, while part two involves hands-on training. The course costs $40 for individuals and $90 for families, which include GST.

"We’d like to encourage everyone, including parents and adult riders, to take a snowmobile safety course," says Peter Huebner, Chief Instructor of the Saskatchewan snowmobile safety program. "It’s a great way to learn, or to remind yourself of, safe and responsible riding practices."

Ell agrees with Huebner and points to statistics on snowmobile-related collisions as evidence of the need to improve safe riding practices. Between 1995 and 1999, there was a total of 1,192 snowmobile collisions resulting in 504 injuries and 25 fatalities. According to SGI’s Traffic Accident Information System (TAIS), 21 out of the 25 deaths in snowmobile collisions over the past five years have been in alcohol-related collisions.

"To enjoy a safe ride, we recommend that all snowmobilers, whether they’re novices or veterans of the sport, always wear a helmet, take a snowmobile safety course and never drink while sledding," says Ell. "We also like to remind riders that there are many well-groomed trails throughout the province that provide a great sledding experience."

Contact the Saskatchewan Safety Council for further information (306) 757-3197

For more information, contact:
Shannon Ell
Supervisor, Traffic Safety Promotion
SGI Communications
Regina
(306) 775-6179

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