The government of Alberta has passed certain laws that apply to those men and women that ride snowmobiles. Anyone that owns that sort of off-highway vehicle must get it registered, must get it insured, and must wear a helmet, while using it. While not part of the law, the following safety tips should not be ignored. The personal injury lawyers in Sherwood Park have seen how brutal such accidents can be when safety takes a backseat.
Basic safety tips for those that ride snowmobiles
• Do not ride at an exceedingly high rate of speed.
• Be wary of unfamiliar terrain; it could contain a number of unpredictable risks.
• Enjoy this sport in good weather and during hours of daylight.
• Stay away from ice; any patch of ice on which you ride should be at least 25 cm thick.
• Use an added amount of caution when riding off-road or on bridges. Ice forms on bridges before it forms on a road’s surface.
Added advice that decreases the chances for an accident
• Do not drink an alcoholic beverage before venturing out on a snowmobile.
• Wear a helmet, along with eye protection. Wear a personal floatation device, in case you get onto thin ice and it breaks. Wear clothing that works to keep your body as warm as possible, if you fall into icy water,
• Ride a vehicle of the proper size. A small person cannot control a larger vehicle. Anyone riding a snowmobile should be at least 14 years of age, or should be supervised by an adult.
• Do not go snowmobiling alone; make arrangements to go out with a friend of family member.
• Be sure that your vehicle is in good condition.
• Plan your route and share your plans with others, before taking off.
Actions that work to limit the possible consequences, once an accident has taken place
Carry a cell phone in a waterproof container. Have emergency equipment with you. That collection of equipment ought to include a rope, a first aid kit, a signal flare, some simple tools and materials that can be used to start a fire.
See if you can get hold of the book that must be read by anyone that hopes to pass the Red Cross course on rescuing a drowning victim. The last chapter in that book is all about how to save someone that has fallen through the ice. Such a tragedy happens too frequently, when snowmobilers fail to maintain an adequate amount of caution.
Learn how to knot a rope, so that it can become an effective tool, during a rescue. Practice knotting a rope and throwing it over a stable object, such as a large fence post. In that way, those riders that might venture onto the ice can be ready, in case that same patch of ice breaks.