It’s a sad day when anyone loses his or her life in a collision, let alone a 16 year old that has his entire life ahead of him.
Tyson Mast was killed last week when the snowmobile he was driving apparently struck a tree. Many in this community are mourning his death, and it goes without saying the lives of his family are forever changed.
Snowmobiling is and continues to be a pastime that is increasing with popularity. More and more people are purchasing snowmobiles of all makes and models, and taking them to the trails for a day of fun. Without a doubt, there can be a great deal of enjoyment from snowmobiling, as long as it is done in a safe and responsible manner.
This isn’t to say the Neerlandia teenager wasn’t practising safe snowmobiling techniques. No one will likely ever know what really happened that night. But, perhaps the one silver lining in the otherwise extremely dark cloud can be that snowmobile safety is first and foremost when sledding.
That’s why there are programs like Alberta Sled Smart Safety, and the focus of this snowmobile safety campaign is to raise awareness of safe and environmentally responsible snowmobile operation targeting rural Alberta students in grades 7 to 9. The safe rider message has been presented to more than 50,000 students throughout the province.
Ninety-nine per cent of snowmobilers practise safety when enjoying the sport. Although a person can take every precaution in the world to stay safe, sometimes things happen that cause terrible accidents.
Today’s snowmobiles are equipped with bigger and faster engines than people actually need to enjoy the sport. People even beef up those machines to make them more powerful. It’s clear they are taking extreme measures in doing so, but to each their own.
Just about every community, big or small, has its own snowmobile club that goes out of its way to ensure residents of their respective towns and cities are able to safely traverse trails. In Barrhead, the Northern Lights Snowmobile Club is responsible for hundreds of kilometres of trails that provide access to ample amounts of fun for all snowmobile enthusiasts, whether seasoned or beginner.
It’s because of their efforts that snowmobile mortality rates aren’t very high. They do a great job, and they do it for the love of the sport.
But, as safe as these clubs make our trails, there is still the opportunity for accidents. People need to take the onus on themselves to ensure nothing bad happens, whether it’s a death or becoming stranded in temperatures of -30 degrees C. There are simple steps that can be taken to make sure this does not happen.
Proper maintenance is key, of course. Snowmobilers need to make sure their machines are running in optimal condition. Furthermore, something as simple as packing a few safety items in a bag is a small gesture to increase one’s ability to survive should something actually happen. Matches, flares, extra clothing, some food –putting such items in a bag and strapping it to a snowmobile could help save a life.
