Snow mobiling is a widely loved recreational activity in Ontario, Canada, but it also holds danger when not done safely or using the proper standard of care. With Ontario receiving plentiful levels of snow every winter, many people of all ages take advantage of this through recreational snow mobile use.
Recently, a 14-year old boy in Upper Ottawa Valley suffered serious injuries on a snow mobile after colliding with a tractor-trailer. The boy was riding his snow mobile when he was charged for disobeying a sign southeast of Pembroke, Ontario. The 14-year old was hospitalized for his injuries, while the driver of the tractor-trailer did not sustain any injuries.
To read more about this, click here.
This accident is a prime example of how crucial snow mobile safety is and proper education and understanding of laws and riding protocol. Even though the 14-year old were a registered rider with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, an accident occurred that resulted in injuries requiring hospitalization.
Here at Cariati Law, our goal is to educate Canadians on safety awareness and hopefully helpful measures that can be taken to ensure safety among all Ontario residents. The next time you take your snow mobile for a ride, please follow these tips to ensure safety for yourself and those around you, according to the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs:
- Stay on the trail. Staying on an open OFSC trail is safer than riding anywhere else.
- Choose the right time and place. Make a smart choice about if, when and how to ride based on the conditions at the time you are riding
- Be vigilant. When you’re riding, you need to know what’s going on around you and be able to properly asses your position and your next moves
- Use hand signals. Using hand signals is both courteous and responsible to other motorists on the road, so make this a habit when it’s safe and prudent to do so. Learn more about hand signals here.
- Choose good visibility conditions. When it’s snowing, many factors can severely limit your ability to properly see. This includes snow dust, white-outs, heavy snow or rain, sun glare, fogging or icing of your
- Keep your wits. Smart choices, good judgement, constant vigilance and sharp reactions are the four keys to snowmobiling without incident
- Be A Registered Driver. Please make sure that you are a licensed rider, and that you or your family members take proper safety courses on how to ride and maneuver your snow mobile or ATV. Education and training can make a big difference when placed in an unsafe situation. Being prepared through training can help keep you and your family members safe.
Were hoping these tips can help you avoid an accident, collision and unnecessary injury. Ride safe this winter everyone!
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