found this about snowmobile fatalities in Canada: Pretty sad to see this..
Alcohol and Recklessness – Key Contributors to Snowmobile Deaths
Along with the snow inevitably comes a number of snowmobile deaths. According to the Canada Safety Council, about 95 Canadians die every year in snowmobile incidents. And the Council fears this number will continue to rise.
About 2/3 of snowmobile mishaps involve alcohol. Drowning and hypothermia are the leading causes of death and the 15-24 age group has the most deaths and injuries.
Snowmobiling – now a multibillion dollar a year industry in North America – continues to grow in popularity. Canada has @ 700,000 registered snowmobiles. They cover a total of 1.65 billion km over the winter months. 80% of that riding is on maintained club trails. Off-trail riding represents only 20% of the riding, but 80% of the fatalities.
These deaths, however, are highly preventable. While most riders are responsible, the profile of high-risk riders is known and can be targeted. They tend to be thrill seekers who speed, ride after dark, and misuse high performance vehicles by zooming across roads, open water - any surface, no matter how thin the ice or rough the terrain.
While difficult to enforce, laws for off-road vehicles do exist, such as:
Operating a snowmobile while intoxicated is a criminal offense and carries the same penalties as operating an automobile while intoxicated. These include fines, loss of license, a criminal record and eventually, convictions.
Helmet use is mandatory.
Following a few precautions will help ensure a safe and enjoyable excursion:
Obey the law. Wear a helmet and do not drink and drive.
Retain body heat by wearing layered clothing.
Never ride alone and always inform someone of where you are going and when you plan to return.
When riding, always carry a repair and survival kit.
Get properly trained. Contact the Canada Safety Council for more information on the training courses available.
