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Theo was 27 years old when he bought his first snowmobile in the early autumn of 1994. The first snowstorm came at the end of October and covered the ground with 15 inches of powder. Eager to try his 1995 touring sled, he snatched his helmet from the shelf, hitched his machine to the trailer and took off for a late evening of driving through the state forest.
Upon arriving at the gate, he scanned the map and unloaded his snowmobile. The first-timer had some difficulty starting his sled, but had it going before too long. To complete the first turn, he leaned hard to the left, just like he had seen experienced snowmobilers doing. Not knowing the power of his machine he lost control and swerved toward a rock embankment.
Instead of braking he accelerated and drove head-first into the rock wall. To his relief and amazement, he walked away unharmed. Like the hundreds of snowmobilers nationwide who crash annually, Theo could have avoided the accident had he followed a few simple safety tips before heading out.
Snowmobilers who take pre-season safety seriously will be well prepared to exercise safety throughout the season. Lt. Harris Mills, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Region Two training officer, says its extremely important to constantly update and renew snowmobile safety habits. To illustrate his point, he compares the safety features of a car to the safety features of a snowmobile. "Cars have steel cages, air bags, bumpers, anti-lock brakes," he states. Roads are engineered to be driven on at 70 mph. A guy on a snowmobile has little protection and drives over uneven terrain, culverts and road approaches. I know a guy who calls snowmobiling a full-body contact sport. If you hit the ground it's just you and the ground and nothing in between." Mills adds that anyone who can imagine what it's like to hit a tree and doesn't take a safety course is foolish.
Safety courses across the country teach young and novice snowmobilers the principles of safe snowmobile operation, rider responsibility, outdoor survival and the laws which govern snowmobiling. That's only part of the safety solution. As desirable as it is to teach beginners safety, it's equally necessary to help experienced sledders keep their safety skills sharp. Highlights of the Minnesota DNR safety course may not teach old dogs new tricks, but they will provide snowmobilers of all abilities easy-to-follow safety guidelines.
• Study your owner's manual and become familiar with your machine. The first rule of snowmobiling is know the operating controls. Always check the throttle and become familiar with the brake.
• Take time to check all the parts on your sled or have a mechanic look at it. Many dealers offer pre-season discounts on service. Inspect helmets and clothing for wear.
• Check headlights.
• Be more visible at night by highlighting your clothing, helmet and sled with reflective material. Mills says most sleds and snowmobile clothing are dark and difficult to see in unlit areas. Red and orange bike reflectors and lights work well.
• Familiarize yourself with your sled's performance capabilities by taking short trips. Practice accelerating, turning, straight-line driving and stopping.
• Acquire the most recent map of the trails and area you plan to tour. Plot the location of dealers and gas stations along the way to ensure convenient fuel and service stops.
• Pack a first aid kit. Include gauze, tape, scissors, tweezers, adhesive bandages and elastic bandages for sprains.
• Mills estimates that over 70 percent of last season's 22 reported fatalities in Minnesota were caused by a combination of driving at night, driving after excessive use of alcohol and/or driving at high speeds. To reduce the number of potential accidents, he suggests not snowmobiling faster than 50 mph, focusing on the field of vision within your headlight and not driving after more than one drink. "Operating a snowmobile after consuming even one alcoholic beverage can greatly increase the likelihood of having an accident," he adds. "The false sense of well being and bravado often induced by alcohol compromises the high degree of judgment and discretion required to anticipate the dangers that lie ahead."
• According to Mills, lack of experience with a new sled often causes problems with snowmobilers when they snowmobile beyond their ability. He recommends that new snowmobilers join a snowmobiling club and/or co-teach a safety course to become more familiar with the sport. "Clubs often have protocols of safety that may or may not be written," he says. "If a new snowmobiler associates with a club, the leadership within the club will take hold on him."
• Another activity that causes problems is following other snowmobilers too closely and keying in on their tail light. It's not safe to assume that a follower will miss an obstacle if the leader does. According to Mills, the leader will avoid stray obstacles by watching for them, but the follower often hits obstacles because he watches the leader and not the trail.
• Mills advises snowmobilers to use extreme caution when snowmobiling on lakes and other frozen bodies of water. Over fifty of the 531 reported accidents in Minnesota happened on lakes last season. "People have a perception that lakes are wide open and have no hazards," he explains. "Hazards on frozen lakes include snow drifts, plowed roads, docks, overhead brush, sticks, logs and other snowmobiles. Use extreme caution at all times."
• Snowmobilers should also be aware of the numbing effect of "environmental stressors." A combination of cold, machine noise and vibration, and the physical demands of snowmobiling can reduce snowmobilers' reaction time enough to equal that of a person considered legally intoxicated.
There is more to learn about snowmobile safety than a brief article can provide. For more information on safety contact your local DNR or snowmobiling club. No matter what source you start with, always use good common sense when riding. It could save your life.