OPP warn: Don't let "living it up" on snowmobile cost you your life

(ORILLIA, ON) - An abundance of snow in many parts of the province has the OPP and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) urging snowmobilers to not let their enthusiasm about ideal conditions get in the way of safe riding this season.

With Ontario Snowmobile Safety Week kicking off next week (Feb. 9-16), the OPP and the OFSC encourage snowmobile communities to make safe riding tips part of their conversations before every ride.

"Snowmobiling is meant to be enjoyable outdoor fun and should never result in the loss of life or injuries," says OPP deputy commissioner Karen Meyer, traffic safety and operational support. "OPP-investigated snowmobile fatalities reveal the same unnecessary risks being taken year-after-year. Preventable behaviours, such as excessive speeding or alcohol and drug impairment, put your safety - and your return to your loves ones - at risk. Please make every ride a safe one for you and your family."

"The safest ride is one you properly plan and prepare for, and where you stick to all the do's and don'ts of snowmobiling that are meant to keep you and fellow riders safe on the trails," says OFSC chief executive officer Ryan Eickmeier. "Making smart choices throughout the season, while taking advantage of a vast snowmobile trail network made possible through our outstanding community of volunteers and landowners, is your ticket to a safe, enjoyable snowmobile season."

Tragically, seven people have died in snowmobile incidents in OPP jurisdictions since the beginning of the 2025-26 riding season. There were 15 such fatalities last season.

The OPP and OFSC encourage snowmobilers to stick to available OFSC trails as these groomed, maintained trails remain the safest riding terrain. Go to the OFSC's convenient Interactive Trail Map to check trail status and plan your next outdoor adventure!

The OPP reminds snowmobilers that travelling on frozen waterways comes with no guarantee that the ice is completely safe. The safest bet is to avoid frozen waterways altogether.

For more information about the OFSC and snowmobiling in Ontario, visit: www.ofsc.on.ca/safety/.

QUICK FACT
 

• OPP Snowmobile, ATV and Vessel Enforcement (SAVE) Teams are mobile, four-season teams that target high-risk operator behaviours on waterways and trails through ongoing enforcement and public education.