With the recent snowfall in the region, and more on the way, many people pulled their snowmobiles from their garages and sheds to enjoy some fun recreational sledding.
But if you aren't careful, snowmobiling can turn into a very dangerous thing quickly. Constable Jillian Johnson of the Perth County OPP says before operating a snowmobile, you should make sure it's in good mechanical condition, and then ensure you're wearing a properly secured helmet.
"Whether it's a snowmobile rollover, or you hit a tree or another sled, the helmet is there to protect you and maybe save your life, but it has to be secured. We see people sometimes toss it on and they don't always do up the straps, so something to think about there," Johnson said.
Johnson adds that having enough fuel for your trip is also key, but should you become stranded, there are a few things you should have just in case.
"I think most people carry their cellphones around with them now, but making sure that that's charged and available to you so you can call for help. Also, knowing where you are is also really important, because sometimes people go out and they follow a trail and not really have a concept of where they are in case of an emergency," Johnson noted.
Beyond some other obvious stuff like respecting stop signs, being cautious when crossing roads and not riding down town sidewalks, Johnson says there's a huge safety tip for riders that the OPP wants everyone to respect. That would be to avoid sledding over ice, especially over larger bodies of water.
"Any ice is just so risky and many, many snowmobile fatalities in Ontario that we end up dealing with with the OPP are in relation to ice and sleds going through the ice. If you can avoid ice, please, please do," Johnson urged.
Also, Johnson points out that trespassing can become an issue, so know and respect where the trails are locally. She says unnecessary damage can be caused to fields and that's why trail systems are staked out in many areas. If you don't know where your local trails are, you can contact your local snowmobile club or association and ask for a map.