Archive: 2008-09 Season

OFSC Trails Remain the Safest Place to Ride

Posted: July 08, 2009

Safety efforts throughout the OFSC and its clubs appear to have paid off again. Fatality numbers remained essentially the same as in the 2007/08 season, a tally that continues to be down from 2005/06. However, about 10% occurred on open OFSC Prescribed Trails, down from 27% in 2007/08. The increase in off -trail tragedies is directly attributable to people sledding where conditions were not safe, such as roads (42%), fields or waterways (30%). Almost half of these off -trail deaths occurred either before January 12 or after March 15. The conclusion: riding on open OFSC Prescribed Trails continues to prove to be the safest place to operate a snowmobile.

The stats suggest that most of the fatalities were predictable and preventable, involving the contributing factors that the OFSC has long identified and warned against. Close to 50% of the off -trail deaths were alcohol related; 42% were caused by excessive speed; and 21% due to drowning. A disturbing trend is that a more veteran rider demographic (30 to 49 years of age) made up 50% of 2008/09 fatalities (with 36% of these in the 40 to 49 age group). On the other hand, fatalities in the younger age groups (under 30 yrs) trended down significantly in the 2008/09 season…and that’s very good news.

Only two fatalities were female, while three were passengers, and almost 90% occurred at dusk or after dark.

Source: MainTrail, June 2009  
 

Paudash Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club, P.O. Box 130, Apsley, Ontario  K0L 1A0
Phone: (705) 656-2292   Fax: (705) 656-2602   Toll Free: 1-800-385-8644   info@paudashtrailblazers.on.ca