Snowmobile safety targeted

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 2, 1999

From staff reports

With the pending first snow comes the season for snowmobiling, and Freeborn County Sheriff Don Nolander wants those who enjoy the sport to think about safety first.

Thursday, December 02, 1999

Email newsletter signup

With the pending first snow comes the season for snowmobiling, and Freeborn County Sheriff Don Nolander wants those who enjoy the sport to think about safety first.

The State of Minnesota averages around 23 deaths a year in snowmobile accidents, mostly due to a combination of excessive speed and alcohol, Nolander said.

Minnesotans born after Dec. 31 of 1979 are required by law to be safety certified, and certification classes for those 12-18 are taking place locally on two consecutive Saturdays beginning this weekend.

Nolander is one of the 10 or more instructors on hand for the classes. The classes begin at 8 a.m. and last until noon on both days. This weekend will be primarily involved in reviewing safety requirements, proper attire for snowmobiling in cold weather and other specific areas related to the sport. On the second weekend, classes will continue. There will be a review of the materials learned and a written test. The date and time for a ride test will be announced depending on snow, Nolander said.

Graduates of the course will receive a credit-card sized certificate that they must carry with them when snowmobiling. The fee for the course is $5, which goes to the DNR and covers the cost of materials used in the course. Approximately 100 students attend the course each year, the Sheriff said.

A ride test will follow the written test and will cover how to cross roads, railroads, bridges and other maneuvers. Generally groups are broken down to between three to five riders and an instructor.

All of the instructors are volunteers and representatives from the Sheriff’s Office and the DNR will be there.

What the students of this course will be able to take away with them is a sense of safe riding, avoiding alcohol/drugs and excessive speed while riding, Nolander said.

&uot;The classes will give the students an opportunity to learn from the materials and the experience of the instructors on how to be safe riders,&uot; Nolander said. &uot;Speed and alcohol kill.&uot;

State statistics say 19 people died in the 1997-98 season because of snowmobile crashes. Over 53 percent of those were alcohol-related.

Nolander reminds snowmobilers there are more than 250 miles of trails in Freeborn County that are the safest places for snowmobilers to be. It is illegal and unsafe for snowmobiles to be on the road.

&uot;When a car and a snowmobile meet in a collision, the snowmobile always loses,&uot; the sheriff said.

Snowmobiles must be properly registered and must also have special permit for studded tracks, Nolander said. The licenses can be obtained through a local licensing bureau. Out of state riders must also have a Minnesota state sticker to ride here, but do not need a special permit for studded tracks.