All,
Attached is a link to a decent article addressing snowmobile deaths in New York over the past several winters. Even though the article mentions statistics for New York only, the message is universal: snowmobile education classes prevent most accidents and today's snowmobiles are just too powerful for most teenagers.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp...sdate=4/27/2008

Albany Times Union


I know I'm preaching to the choir, but collectively we need to encourage teens to take the snowmobile education classes offered, set a good example on the trail by being courteous and speed conscious, keeping to the right, and perhaps not allowing your 14 year old daughter to take out your 140hp sled by herself!

let's make this a real family sport again!

Bring back the 30 - 50 hp sleds for the younger riders. What is the lowest HP our there now 70HP for fan sled? When I was a teen I had a doo Elan 300SS. I think that was maybe 40HP maybe a little less. Plenty of zip for young folks. Too much HP in sleds these days I think for most young people.

There should be a law where kids can't ride a snowmobile with more than 80HP. If there caught then the parents would receive a $500.00. Also, all states make new riders take a safety course if your born after 1983 like Vermont makes you do..26 deaths in NY in one season is terrible..I've never rode in New York why are there so many fatalities??? Do police have check points?? You could probably take all of the New England states conbined this season and it wouldn't equal 26 deaths..

In Vermont anyone born after July, 1983, and who is 12 years of age and older, must complete and pass a six-hour safety course. Also, anyone under the age of 16 must be "directly" supervised at all times during operation of a snowmobile. I do very much agree that it is a poor decision all the way around to put a younger - smaller individual on a powerful sled…you are just asking for trouble.

I should start keeping count of the kids riding "dad’s old machine" who's feet can't even touch the running boards.

MJR- I wish I knew why there are so many deaths in NY as opposed to the New England state. Even though I live in Troy, I never actually ridden in NY; Vermont is in my blood! I heard from a friend who owns an outdoor shop in Old Forge NY that the snowmobiliers are crazy up there. No courtesy on the trails and guys just nailing the throttle from corner to corner. Who knows, maybe the teens see their dads acting this way and think it is acceptable.

any way to attach a govenor to keep the speed at a level conducive to your child's ability? They probably sell them but apparently not in NY

I have seen little kids on big sleds like 800's, but I am only 18 and i have had a 600 for the past 3 seasons. With the trails the way they are now, you cant really use a 30 or 40 hp sled, because it just doesnt go fast enough. It might have been before when you couldnt go much faster than 20-30 on the trails. Now with "highways", people can cruze at 50-60 no problem and you cant do that with a 40 hp sled. I think im going bigger next year.

I'm generalizing, which I know isn't right, but in the very little riding I've done in NY, I saw a significant amount of boozing on the trails.

That is sad about those two girls. The parents are as much to blame because the girls were still at the age where there needed to be someone 18 or older with them. I definitely would not push this because they are suffering enough with the loss but the parents did break the law and technically should recieve a fine or jail time.

They should report snowmobile accidents/deaths by ratio and then compare it to other sports like atv riding or driving a car. Any death is bad but it seems the papers make it look worse by giving the total for the seasons.

I'm from N.Y. but I prefer to ride in Vt as well. I've spent my share of times out on the hill and around that region. There are more than likely more deaths due to the fact that they get snow earlier in the season because of the lake effect bans - thus the amount of sleds that flock to any of those snow belt areas. People from all over head to this region because of the lake effect snow. I know one thing, and I will never ever ride out there on a weekend again. Just way too many people - sure you can spread out and go off the hill - but the number of sledders out there at any given time is just crazy. People who aren't familiar with that area - tend to just stick up on the "hill" and then bitch and moan because the conditions may get bad when that amount of traffic takes the toll on the trails.

Excessive amounts of traffic = more obstacles to overcome [braking bumps, moguls, etc] + faster sleds and less experienced riders not familiar with the territory. I think that speaks alot right there.

I agree. This is very sad. The parents can only blame themselves and a lack of good judgement. Jail time won't fix the guilt they must feel.
I'd like to see mandatory attendance by the parents at the Safety classes, so there would be no surprises concerning their responsibilities.
Vermont has set a standard for safety that many other States are following. Is it enough?
I hope that law enforcement continues to improve how they patrol and enforce the rules. A police presence in the right spot can make a huge difference. I've heard some encouraging stories from the '07-08 season.
Thanks to all that rode safely and considered fellow riders before entering a corner or cresting a hill. I thank you personally because you probably saved my life. I'll enjoy next season and so will you.
Prayers for the tragic losses and more prayers for intelligent decisions that we'll need to make next year.
Enjoy the summer.