If you soon plan to be out on snowmobile trails, be careful especially if you’re riding over logging roads. Workplace Safety North says those roads are still heavily used by logging trucks even though we’re into winter. WSN says pay attention to the designated snowmobile crossing signs companies put up because they’re in place to keep you safe. In the past, snowmobilers have died as a result of riding on their sleds on forest roads and running into a logging truck.
Statistics from the Ministry of Transportation show that an average of one snowmobiler a year dies on industrial roads and many more riders are injured. WSN also says it’s not only forestry firms that use the roads. They are occasionally used by telecommunications, rail and depending on the location, mining companies. This means there are a variety of vehicles sledders need to be on the lookout for.
WSN and forest companies want snowmobilers to enjoy the season and to be careful regardless of what land base they use. During the 2013-14 snowmobile season in Ontario, collisions killed 19 drivers, two of their passengers while nearly 300 operators and passengers were injured. In addition, two pedestrians died as a result of snowmobile incidents. The figures are from the Ministry of Transportation.
