NRA Family Fun: Snowmobile Safety Tips

Get out and enjoy your wonderful winter ... but be safe on that fresh powder!

by
posted on January 17, 2024
Snowmobile Safety Image Usda

Snowmobiling is a great way to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months, but just as with guns, there are some very important safety concepts to keep in mind. The first is that snowmobiles are motor vehicles, and driving one under the influence is just as dangerous (if not more) than doing so in a car. It's also every bit as illegal as DUI in a car. Don't drive impaired--and that includes prescription medication--and never ride with someone who is driving impaired.

Also just as with cars, excessive speed is a major factor in many accidents, especially at night. To help avoid accidents, keep your nighttime speed under 40 MPH. Forty miles an hour may not seem all that fast, but remember, you're riding on terrain, not a groomed road.

Never ride alone: Always ride with a friend on another snowmobile. This way if one machine is disabled, you have another to get help. If you must ride alone, let a friend or loved one know where you are going, and when you expect to be back. 

Always wear a quality DOT helmet and facemask. Wear layers of clothing to keep warm and dry. Snowmobile suits, bibs, jackets, gloves and mittens should cut the wind, repel water and keep you ventilated. If your helmet doesn't incorporate a mask, please wear shooting-quality eye protection. (At 40 MPH, one little twig could cost you your eyesight.)

Don't ride in adverse weather conditions. Yes, the snowmobile is designed for snow, but it can't help you see in whiteout conditions, and it's not any better on ice than your SUV. Plan your trip and check the trails you'll be riding prior to departure.

Speaking of those trails, please stay on them. Trespassing is a major complaint about snowmobilers and can result in trail closure. Always stay on designated snowmobile trails. Venturing off trails can result in accidents. Only ride private property when you have landowner permission.

Take a snowmobile safety training course! You can find them for free online, and many state departments of natural resources offer them for free or for a nominal fee. 

“It’s important to remember that operating any type of motor vehicle, including snowmobiles, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can cause traumatic injuries, tragic loss of life, and is flat-out against the law,” said Captain Matt Bruner with the Iowa DNR’s Law Enforcement Bureau. “We recommend snowmobile riders of all ages take a snowmobile safety course, don’t outride your abilities or trail conditions, and perhaps most importantly, don’t drink and ride.”

 

 

Latest

Nra Logo Periwinkle
Nra Logo Periwinkle

NRA Files Amicus Brief Asking Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to District of Columbia’s Magazine Ban

The NRA’s brief argues that D.C.'s ban on magazines of 10 or more rounds is unconstitutional.

Throwback Thursday: Remington Double Derringer

Its technical name is the Model 95, but this diminutive pistol is the image that comes to mind when you hear "derringer."

Reviewed: Kimber 2K11 Pistol

Don't be fooled: Kimber's full-size, double-stack 1911-style handgun shoots almost as softly and accurately as a race-tuned .22.

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging Colorado’s Excise Tax on Gun & Ammunition Sales

"We are pleased to join with other Second Amendment advocates in this lawsuit to protect and defend the fundamental right to keep and bear arms.”

Catch Big & Rich Performing Live at "NRA Show" in Atlanta

These staunch Second Amendment supporters headline our "Freedom Experience" concert at NRA's Annual Meetings & Exhibits this month.

No Fooling: Silencer Central Pays Tax Stamps Through April 15, 2025

“We wanted to do something for our customers to reduce some of the stress of tax time," notes Silencer Central CEO Brandon Maddox.

Interests



Get the best of NRA Family delivered to your inbox.