Snowmobile Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that each year about 110 people die while riding snowmobiles. The Commission estimates that about 13,400 hospital emergency room-treated injuries occur each year with snowmobiles. Approximately two-fifths or 40 percent of the reported deaths resulted from colliding with trees, wires, bridges, and other vehicles. Some deaths occurred when the snowmobile rolled to the side in a ditch or stream and pinned the operator under the vehicle. Deaths also have occurred when the snowmobile entered water, mostly when it was operating on ice and fell through.
CPSC recommends the following safe snowmobiling rules for recreational snowmobiling:

1. Never drive your snowmobile alone or on unfamiliar ground. Have someone ride along with you, so you can help each other in case of breakdown or accident.
   
2. Drive only on established and marked trails or in specified use areas.
   
3. Avoid waterways. Frozen lakes and rivers can be fatal. It is almost impossible to judge adequate ice coverage or depth.
   
4. Avoid driving in bad weather. Check warnings for snow, ice, and wind chill conditions before starting.
   
5. Watch the path ahead to avoid rocks, trees, fences (particularly barbed wire), ditches, and other obstacles.
   
6. Slow down at the top of a hill. A cliff, snowbank, or other unforeseen hazard could be on the other side.
   
7. Don't hurdle snowbanks. You have control only when your skis are on the ground.
   
8. Learn the snowmobile traffic laws and regulations for the area. Many states prohibit using snowmobiles on public roads. Some states have minimum age requirements for drivers.
   
9. Be sensible about stopping at roads or railroad tracks. Signal your turns to other drivers. Avoid tailgating. Control speed according to conditions.
   
10. Use extra caution if driving at night because unseen obstacles could be fatal. Do not drive faster than your headlights will allow you to see. Do not open new trails after dark.
    
11. Never drink while driving your snowmobile. Drinking and driving can prove fatal.
12. Be sure the snowmobile is properly maintained in good operating condition. Some cases report that the throttle sticks, leading to loss of control. Snowmobiles manufactured before 1983 may not have a "throttle interruption device" designed to shut off the snowmobile in the event the throttle sticks.