Police Beat: Snowmobile Safety Week

Snowmobile Safety Week

ORILLIA – Jan. 14 to 21 is Snowmobile Safety Week and the OPP is taking the opportunity to remind snowmobilers to stay off Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs trails, which remain closed at this time.

They are also urging snowmobilers to stay off frozen waterways, “which unseasonably mild temperatures have made particularly unpredictable and unsafe throughout the province.”

“In the past 10 years, 158 snowmobilers did not make it home to their families in what were almost all preventable riding incidents,” police stated in a Jan. 12 press release.

“Common factors included driving too fast for the conditions, alcohol/drugs and riding on unsafe frozen waterways.”

Police say 41 per cent of the fatalities were linked to alcohol/drugs and 36% occurred on frozen lakes and rivers (in OPP jurisdictions).

“Safe and responsible snowmobiling means not going out if there is any doubt about whether it is safe to do so,” stated OPP deputy commissioner Rohan Thompson.

“This cannot be overstated where frozen waterways are involved, which are never guaranteed to be 100 per cent safe.

“Making smart decisions before and during your ride, such as always riding sober and drug-free, is what will get you home to your family.”

Driver had cannabis but not insurance

WELLINGTON NORTH – On Jan. 4 at about 9:30pm, a Wellington County OPP officer stopped the driver of a silver SUV on Wellington Road 109 here.

A 46-year-old driver from Moorefield was charged with driving without insurance and driving with cannabis readily available.

The accused is to appear in Guelph court on April 17.