Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are urging sledders to stay off Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) Trails, which remain closed at this time.
It's Snowmobile Safety Week, and the OPP are taking the opportunity to warn riders to avoid frozen waterways, which could still be unpredictable and unsafe throughout the province.
OPP report that in the past 10 years, 158 snowmobilers were killed in preventable riding incidents. Common factors included driving too fast for the conditions, alcohol/drugs and riding on unsafe frozen waterways. 41 per cent of the fatalities were linked to alcohol or drugs and 36 per cent of them occurred on frozen lakes and rivers in OPP jurisdictions.
The OPP remains committed to saving lives on more than one million square kilometres of land and waterways throughout the province.
"Safe and responsible snowmobiling means not going out if there is any doubt about whether it is safe to do so," said Rohan Thompson, Deputy Commissioner, OPP Traffic Safety and Operational Support. "This cannot be overstated where frozen waterways are involved, which are never guaranteed to be 100 per cent safe. Making smart decisions before and during your ride, such as always riding sober and drug-free, is what will get you home to your family."
Snowmobile Safety Week runs from January 13 to 21, 2024.
