Snowmobile safety stressed:

Two new online snowmobile safety courses allow individuals to earn legal safety certification, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The sites, www.snowmobilecourse.com or www.snowmobile-ed.com require a fee of $29.50. State law requires that persons between the ages of 12 and 16 must have a valid snowmobile certificate of competency to operate a vehicle alone. The agency also offers free traditional safety classes regarding safety, maintenance, operation, winter survival and other information. There were 47 reported snowmobile accidents in 2010-11 with one fatality. Visit http://dnr.state.il.us.