So many snowmobile accidents

[campclose]

Its crazy - I've heard of 3 snowmobile accidents in my area in the last week. I don't know if the drivers are just being crazy out there or what. I know they waited so long for enough snow. Thankfully all 3 were just minor - but still people need to be more careful!

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


Yes, we have them around here, too, although none yet this year (no snow!).

We typically have more ATV mishaps than with snow machines. Both are frequently caused by unskilled drivers who don't watch where they're going...like shooting across highways without looking, driving under the influence, or just losing control due to excess speed.

I think that such drivers would get into less mishaps if they first had proper training in handling these machines.

[hikingprincess]

To be honest, we have a lot of fatal snowmobile accidents where I live and it makes me too scared to even get on one. I remember a few years back a kid was decapitated by a utility pole wire because he was speeding through an area he wasn't familiar with.

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by hikingprincess

To be honest, we have a lot of fatal snowmobile accidents where I live and it makes me too scared to even get on one. I remember a few years back a kid was decapitated by a utility pole wire because he was speeding through an area he wasn't familiar with.

Hi...


Under those circumstances, I don't blame you.

I have ridden on a snow machine only once...not being inclined to try it again, but for different reasons.

Temperature for most of the week stood at around 50-below. I was walking that night, rather than going through the extra effort in starting my vehicle. A snowmobile driver came past me...turned around...and asked me it I wanted a ride to where I was going. I didn't, but finally said what the heck.

Shortening the tale, that was one short but COLD ride...!! I've never been on one since.

[Grandpa]

We used to ride at nights when the snow surface was colder and more solid. Great riding all night long but you do have to use caution. We never spilled blood and always got all the machines home before morning but it did take careful operation.

[DMan]

A younger guy was killed in our area about 2 weeks ago. We don't have any designated areas to ride in around here unfortunately, so he was riding beside the road in a rural area. He hit the wire supporting a utility pole and his snowmobile tipped over and he was killed. Very sad.

[campclose]

I used to ride snowmobiles at night too. We would travel together (about 10 of us) and I would never lead. I did not want to be the first one anymore, figured it was more safe that way. I still ride 4-wheelers, just not as much in the snow.

[ppine]

Alcohol, plus speed, plus cold, plus buried hazards equals accidents. Somebody asked a friend what LOTUS stands for- "Lots of trouble, usually serious."