Ramping up snowmobile safety in northern Ontario

Northern Ont. police are teaming up with Timmins Snowmobile Club for a ramp up in patrols to ensure riders are having fun safely.

Ontario Snowmobile Safety Week runs from Feb. 10 to 17 and in Timmins, keeping the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs’ (OFSC) trails safe is a team effort.

Members of the Timmins Snowmobile Club and the Ontario Provincial Police have ramped up their patrolling efforts this week to ensure everyone has a fun season.

Noel Belair is a trail patrol coordinator for the Timmins Snowmobile Club.

On Wednesday, he was showing the ropes to other club members while travelling to Cochrane on an OFSC trail.

“We’re going to be going up … the C North line which basically goes up towards Cochrane- Smooth Rock falls intersection,” Belair said.

“There’s a warmup shack, so we’re able to go up there, warm up and maybe have a hot dog.”

• SAFETY ALERT ISSUED: OFSC Trail A

With around 1,050 sledders who purchased trail passes in the area this year, he said he will be on the lookout for anyone who might need help.

And, while he’s not authorized to issue tickets or fines, he helps educate those found disobeying trail rules, especially those who disregard stop signs.

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“It’s just basically to help them in, to guide them in education and say just ‘look, stop signs (are) there for a reason,’” Belair said.

“We don’t want them getting hit or a vehicle hitting them.”

Snowmobilers must stop at stop signs on trails, OPP acting Sgt. Michelle Simard said.

“It’s there because you’re probably getting an intersecting driveway … an intersecting road," she said.

“It’s very important that you take the time to stop a complete stop and check both ways, as if you were in a vehicle.”

The OPP says every year, there are some snowmobilers who take unnecessary risks on frozen waterways.

Over the past decade, police estimate close to 40 per cent of the 145 snowmobile-related fatalities occurred on frozen lakes and rivers.

“Now, we always say that ‘no ice is safe,’ but we have to hope that when the trails, if the trail is made there, the trail is open, the trail is safe,” Simard said.

“Stay on the trail, that’s the point.”

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Officials said snowmobiling is a fun winter activity.

To keep it that way, authorities ask riders to stay up-to-date on what they need to do to keep themselves, their passengers and fellow riders safe throughout the season.

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