Unsurprising news: alcohol or drugs a factor in more than half of snowmobile fatalities
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As per the CBC, between 2013 and 2019, an average of 73 Canadians died in snowmobile accidents a year. The leading factors involved in deaths are: impairment by drug or alcohol, excessive speed, and riding at night. 80 percent of deaths were in single vehicle incidents, and most of those involve colliding with a stationary object. So, in my mind, a good number of these deaths are 100% preventable.
I get I'm a city slicker who didn't grow up with rural life, but I did grow up around cottager culture, which has surprising similarities around the rules. If you're going to be sledding, for all that is holy don't do it impaired. Impaired operation is impaired operation, whether it's on a motorcycle, car, ATV, boat, train, whatever. Which means that, not only can you lose your license here in Saskatchewan for riding a snowmobile while impaired, but also face criminal charges, which can include several thousands in fines, driving prohibitions, or jail time. To say nothing of the fact that you could kill yourself or someone else with your response time and perception being altered.
Likewise, on the trails here in Saskatchewan, the speed limit is 80 km/h. I know that some sleds can absolutely bomb it down the trails, but with sharp turns, not the best maintenance, and that snow isn't the most conducive for a smooth ride, it's not advised to exceed that, especially when riding at night or on an unfamiliar trail. Don't think a helmet will save you hitting a stationary object at 80 km/h, either. You're still a very fragile hunk of meat and bone under all that. (to say nothing that if you don't wear it properly, you're doubly screwed in an accident. I've seen inside bits of a person on a tree before, it's not pleasant)
Just... ride safe, folks. There's a very laissez-faire culture when it comes to powersports because "that's how we've always done it, and there's no one else to catch it, and we've never had a problem", but that kind of attitude is what leads to funerals. Ride sober, ride with a friend, and try to keep off the trails at night or in low visibility. Get home in one piece so you can make it to the next season.
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@cb As I live near an OHV dune area, I can attest that the same applies for quads/dirtbikes/side-by-sides/brotruck idiocy.
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Well after the booze and drugs I had, I should be fine since I'm driving a car and not a snowmobile home!!!
On a more serious note, I've read that it's a similar story when it comes to boating fatalities.
And I've never gone snowmobiling... but I have a hard time imagining that I'd want to go faster than 80km/h riding one of them
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@cb I've seen people driving offroad (still on an FSR mind you) beer in hand.
Also, not that this is part of the above post, but the firearms use near FSR's (not allowed) or in camps is crazy.
As much as I want to get into offroading, the hillbillies, yokels and rednecks really make it suck sometimes.
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Also breaking news, alcohol and drugs a factor in more than half of snowmobile purchases.
Kidding aside, second the ride with a friend advice. You don't want to die alone of hypothermia just because you were immobilized by a treatable injury.
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You'd figure that when the crumple zone is your skeleton that people would take greater care.
On a side note, I wonder what the overlap is between Ram 2500 drivers and snowmobile riders. You gotta tow the snowmobile somehow, right?
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After reading someone's article on quads yesterday I got to thinking what the number of people killed by ATVs is as a multiple of people killed by sharks...
Now we have a data point for snowmobiles.
I always figured dirt bikes were probably safer because you need to have a modicum of training/practice/coordination to be able to use them rather than just any beered up yahoo being able to hop on and go. -
@cb unpopular opinion, but I'm ok with the idiots weeding themselves out. I went camping with friends years ago. My buddy brought his dirt bike. After too many beers he jumped on it and went to kick start it. His foot slipped off while going for a big kick. Bike fell on top of him. We laughed for hours. The noise he made was priceless. White trash priceless
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@cb Ifor you're going to do something dangerous, do it safely. There are so many variables involved in how likely you are to kill yourself on a sled/motorcycle and drinking is definitely the most dangerous thing you can do. I've seen drunk people do the craziest, dumbest shit ever that they'd never do sober.
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@manwich If its really smooth and trail groomed they can be deceptively fast. of coarse speed isn't as accurate as a car so that has to be taken with a grain of salt.
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I can't say I'm surprised. Most people consider the "rules" more as "guidelines" when it comes to offroading. Hell, I didn't even realize that there is a universal trail speed limit (I've def done a buck-ten on an ATV). My parents are big cottage people so I get a little bit of insight, but we've all been urbanized into responsibility, if that makes sense
