Recommendations for snowmobile safety

Question 1

What is the average number of deaths due to snowmobile mishaps yearly in Canada in children under 16yo?

Answer 1

4

Question 2

What is the leading cause of injury and death in snowmobile accidents?

Answer 2

Head injury

Question 3

What is the most common mechanism of injury resulting in deaths and serious injury with snowmobiles?

Answer 3

Striking a fixed object

Question 4

What other causes if injury are associated with snowmobiles?

Answer 4

1. Near drowning events from breaking through ice (rare)
2. Frostbite and hypothermia (rare)
3. Burns associated with refueling mishaps
4. Injuries while being towed in a sled, tube, tire or saucer
5. Hearing loss
6. White finger syndrome (effects of cold weather and hand-arm vibrations from handlebar of snowmobile

Question 5

What are common factors associated with snowmobile accidents?

Answer 5

1. Operator error
2. Speeding
3. Travelling on inappropriate terrain
4. Night-time operation
5. Alcohol use

Question 6

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in BC?

Answer 6

1. No minimum driver age
2. No mandatory helmet use
3. Requires driver’s license for operating on or across a highway

Question 7

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Alberta?

Answer 7

1. No minimum driver age
2. No mandatory helmet use
3. Must be >14yo on highways
4. Must be supervised by an adult if <14yo on public property

Question 8

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Saskatchewan?

Answer 8

1. Minimum driver age 12yo
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. 12-15yo must have passed an appropriate safety training course and be supervised by someone with a valid driver’s license
4. > 16yo complete a safety course

Question 9

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Manitoba?

Answer 9

1. No minimum driver age
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. <14yo must be supervised by an adult >18yo
4. Residents in remote areas exempt from all age related driver restrictions

Question 10

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Ontario?

Answer 10

1. No minimum driver age
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. No age restrictions on private property
4. Public property: <12yo must be closely supervised by an adult
5. Public property: >12yo without drivers license allowed without supervision if carrying a certificate of competence (MSVOL)
6. Highways: require a valid driver’s license

Question 11

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Quebec?

Answer 11

1. Minimum driver age 14yo
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. <16yo must carry certificate of competence
4. <14yo may operate off-road vehicles during competitions under certain conditions

Question 12

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in New Brunswick

Answer 12

1. No minimum driver age
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. <14yo must be supervised by an adult >19yo
4. <16yo required to take an approved safety course
5. Highways: must be >16yo to cross a highway, must be >14yo and meet certain conditions to drive across a highway

Question 13

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Nova Scotia?

Answer 13

1. No minimum driver age
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. <14yo must be supervised by an adult
4. Requirement for certificate of competence for underage operators

Question 14

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in PEI?

Answer 14

1. No minimum driver age
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. 10-14yo must be supervised by an adult
4. Require a valid driver’s license to drive across a highway

Question 15

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Answer 15

1. No minimum driver age
2. No mandatory helmet use
3. <13yo must be accompanied by >19yo

Question 16

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Yukon

Answer 16

1. No minimum driver age
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. > 16yo for highways

Question 17

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Northwest Territories?

Answer 17

1. No minimum driver age
2. Mandatory helmet use
3. > 14yo and wear a helmet on highways
4. Fort Resolution Settlement Area: minimum age 16yo
5. Lutselk: minimum age 15yo

Question 18

What are the provincial and territorial snowmobile legislation in Nunavut?

Answer 18

1. Adopting the Northwest Territories’ All-Terrain Vehicles Act
2. Mandatory helmet use

Question 19

What is the CPS recommended age for operation of a snowmobile?

Answer 19

> 16yo

Question 20

What is the CPS recommended age for safe transport as a passenger on snowmobiles?

Answer 20

> 6yo

Question 21

What are the recommendations regarding advertisements and youth?

Answer 21

Advertisements that promote snowmobiling should not be directed to young adolescents. Advertisements should not depict young adolescents driving snowmobiles.

Question 22

What are the safety recommendations for snowmobilers >16yo?

Answer 22

1. Graduated licensing similar to motor vehicle licensing, where newly licensed drivers are restricted to daylight hours on groomed trails only with zero alcohol consumption tolerated
2. Travel at safe speeds. Consider speed limiting governor for newly licensed operators
3. No alcohol or drugs before or during operation of a snowmobile
4. Wear insulated protective clothing, incld. goggles, waterproof snowmbile suit, gloves, rubber bottomed boots
5. Wear approved helmet
6. Bright-coloured antennae flag (1.2-2.4m length) mounted to back of snowmobile
7. Carry emergency tool kits containing spark plugs, drive and fan belts and an extra key
8. Carry emergency survival kit containing: flares, cellular phone, first aid kit
9. . Snowmobilers should travel in groups of two or more and only on designated, marked trails away from roads, waterways, railroads and pedestrian traffic.
10. Snowmobilers should check the weather forecast before going out and should become familiar with the signs of hypothermia and regularly check for frostbite.
11. Snowmobilers should avoid snowmobiling on ice if they are uncertain about its thickness or condition. The condition of trails should also be determined and, where appropriate, avalanche danger ascertained.
12. Snowmobilers should not carry more than one passenger. Headlights and tail lights should be on at all times to improve the visibility of the snowmobile to other vehicle operators.
13. The use of a saucer, tube, tire, sled or skis to pull someone behind a snowmobile is not recommended. If the need should arise to tow a person, using a sled or cutter attached to the snowmobile by a rigid bar connection reduces the risk of injury. The operator should travel at a slow speed over level terrain away from trees, rocks and other vehicles. In addition, a spotter should be used to watch the individual(s) being towed.
14. Snowmobiles must be well maintained. Persons should take appropriate precautions when fueling snowmobiles to avoid burns and when loading snowmobiles on and off trailers to prevent strains and crush injuries.

Question 23

What are CPS recommendations for manufacturers?

Answer 23

1. Snowmobile manufacturers should incorporate mechanical enhancements, such as seating and handlebar designs, to improve rider comfort and safety, as well as to reduce hand-arm vibration to minimize white finger syndrome and numbness. Manufacturers should also attenuate the sound levels generated by snowmobiles, improve the headlight luminance and add a rear-view mirror and a global positioning system device (overhead satellites to provide exact current latitudes and longitudes) to all snowmobiles. Manufacturers are urged to improve snowmobile braking, steering and stability. Emission standards for snowmobiles should be improved.
2. Helmet designs need to be improved to minimize visor fogging and improve hearing protection. Safety standards for snowmobile helmets should be developed and snowmobile helmets formally certified. Helmet manufacturers should consider adding features such as built-in radio channels for communication and weather monitoring.