Take care before getting on a snowmobile
Winter has whacked us with the worst it can throw at us.
It's been a rare day, of late, when we haven't had snow -- and a lot of it. Storm after winter storm has descended on us, snarling traffic, closing schools. And, even after the plows clear the roads of snow, motorists have another hazard to deal with -- deep potholes opened by freeze/thaw cycles.
But for some, it is a winter wonderland. Particularly snowmobilers. Yet for too many, a day on the ice or snow ends with death.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports a notable increase in the number of fatal snowmobile accidents. So far this winter, there have been 27 snowmobile accidents, with eight deaths.
In contrast, there were three deaths in all of last year in 19 reported snowmobile accidents.
Just this week, a Lakemoor man died after his snowmobile plunged into open water on Nippersink Lake.
And in December, a Round Lake Beach man was killed in a snowmobile accident, after his craft hit some trees. Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said toxicology reports taken during an autopsy showed the man had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal threshold for drunken driving.
Alcohol, too, was believed to be involved in the snowmobile accident that took the life of WBBM-TV morning anchor Randy Salerno late last month in Eagle River, Wis. The man who drove the snowmobile upon which Salerno was riding has been charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
Indeed, alcohol is believed to be a factor in seven of the 27 snowmobile accidents this year, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
How many other alcohol-related snowmobile accidents must there be before the message gets across that getting on a snowmobile after drinking is every bit as dangerous as driving a car while intoxicated? A snowmobile is not a horse-drawn sleigh. It is a vehicle that travels at high speeds under tricky conditions. Driving one while impaired is an invitation to tragedy.
Even if snowmobilers make the wise decision to not drink alcohol before enjoying their outdoor hobby, there are other precautions to take to avoid getting injured or killed.
One is to know if the ice is thick enough to bear the weight of the snowmobile. Black ice is a sure sign that a lake is not safe for snowmobile travel.
Snowmobilers should also be familiar with the terrain before heading out on trails and never ride alone. It is also a good idea to enroll in snowmobile safety classes before snowmobiling for the first time.
The weather conditions are perfect for snowmobiling. And a good time on the ice or snow should not be ruined by bad decisions that can lead to injury or death.