Totally... if that is your mindset don't do it. I have no problem with those that do & those that don't. I have known many riders that have a need for speed much greater than mine. Prolly everytime out I do triple digits never had an accident. Snowmobiling is risky biz I accept the risks. I also know peeps that are very concerned about speed, wrecked countless sleds, had a flight for life & still getting their kicks from sleddin. I said to this bud I have no idea why these things happen to you but somehow it is always you and I have no answer for that? If we all think about others the trails will be safer. For me & what I do on a snowmobile it never involves anyone but me and all my buds are advised to stay within their comfort zone before mile 1 always part of our pre ride routine.
Slow down in the UP
- Thread starter larboc
- Start date
Totally... if that is your mindset don't do it. I have no problem with those that do & those that don't. I have known many riders that have a need for speed much greater than mine. Prolly everytime out I do triple digits never had an accident. Snowmobiling is risky biz I accept the risks. I also know peeps that are very concerned about speed, wrecked countless sleds, had a flight for life & still getting their kicks from sleddin. I said to this bud I have no idea why these things happen to you but somehow it is always you and I have no answer for that? If we all think about others the trails will be safer. For me & what I do on a snowmobile it never involves anyone but me and all my buds are advised to stay within their comfort zone before mile 1 always part of our pre ride routine.
Here is the problem with speed limits lets say 55mph is the upper limit. So now ride 55mph in a tight twisty is that too fast for ya? So now post lower speeds limts in the twistys as you twist & turn. Bring back a hundred different signs & now add many speed limit signs that are ignored. Just when I was thinking the MI trails are signed just right...lol.. To me it is so simple to slow down for oncoming & stopped sleds pass only on rider command when it is safe for all. If a slower rider does not yield in a reasonable amount of time that is when the trouble starts....imo... Make it a law to to slow to X speed passing oncoming & stopped sleds & many problems will be eliminated. WI already has 10mph limit passing ice shanty seems right on to me to apply that to anyone standing anywhere near trail as well. This is what I do already anyway.
boilerrph is spot on. Very well said. I used to love riding ATVs fast and reckless until I woke up in the hospital at the age of 19 with a brain contusion, not a concussion and asking the nurses what the **** happened. While riding in that manner, I always thought I was in control and nothing would happen, but it did. Fast forward 10 years and along comes my youngest child. To this day, I have a responsibility to come home in one piece to he, my daughter and my wife. If I fail to do this, I would prefer that it be due to an error on my part, and not someone else's.
POLARISDAN
New member
yea..u and i think pretty much alike..fast when it's ok..responsible for the group ur leading..leader sets the pace and the rules..make sure everybody is following them..its just so simple..have regards for others..speed is a byproduct of riding responsibly..i banged 3000 miles in january at mostly high speeds..we never even came close to an issue for our safety and certainly never put anybody else at risk..i just dont get why this is so difficult..and yes..deer is my #1 hazard..we blew a bunch out this year..but that is the risk i take..always watching
next year we need to hook up and ride bro..
Sounds good Dan I like a guy that get up & go & be responsible at the same time. We can always slow down when necessary then ramp it right back up just the way I like to ride. If I never wanted to go over 55mph I would buy an old 340 & be done with it...lol. If I have the ponies I'm going to let them run ...simple as that.
People that continually argue for increased regulation miss one salient point.........they simply don't work.......look how well the speed suggestions (i.e. speed limits) work on virtually any highway you care to pick.
Snowmobiling, like any motorized sport, is inherently dangerous. You assume that risk whether consciously or not every time you put the gear on and leave your house/room/whatever. All you can do is ride as defensively as you can and wear whatever protective gear you're inclined to.
Snowmobiling, like any motorized sport, is inherently dangerous. You assume that risk whether consciously or not every time you put the gear on and leave your house/room/whatever. All you can do is ride as defensively as you can and wear whatever protective gear you're inclined to.
Very true budda2. You will always have the few who are just plain reckless, and stupid. The sleds preform so much better these days. The accidents happen faster. The accident on trail 3 in the KeeWee 2 weeks back was as bad as could be. Something that should not have happened. So, so sad. This was more of a family activity when I started. Not that way today.
Winterrules
New member
1 death is one to many, riders that put others at risk won't change, I hate to say this, we need speed limits, and strict enforcement. I like to ride at a good pace too, but I also don't put other riders at risk doing so.
goofy600
Well-known member
Not that this is the complete problem but do all states require a snowmobile safety certificate? Not that that will fix all problems, but then make all rental dealers check before renting because that is where I have a lot of issues that they have not been taught the basis rules only a 5 minute crash corse at rental place. Again a general assumption not all renters. And then the young 20 somethings that just bought there first sled are they required to take a corse? As many have said it use to be a family sport as it still is for my family I went through safety corse at 12 so did my son. Things set in at 12 maybe not when older. If dealers or states had to verify safety certificate before selling at registering that would be easier than trying to police thousands of miles of trails. Maybe would help people to understand how dangerous it can be.
The U.P. is once again one of the few places with snow this year. So that results in more accidents. I for one, have said before, and still believe that reckless conduct law enforcement could be better used for the sake of others safety. Minnesota and Canada due a better job at this than Michigan. Let those who wish to be reckless pay for the problem, and perhaps decrease it. If nothing else, $$$$$$$ will change mind sets. Just watch how many riders don't stop for stop signs, or even slow down. This type behavior is also a problem of getting, and keeping trails on private property. I have been driving truck for many years, and can say driver conduct is getting worse all over, where ever. Ok, I'm done. Go ahead and trash me!
Grant Hoar
New member
How about this:
Families and slow riders: 24 hours a day, you pick the safe and comfortable speed
Sober fast riders: 24 hours a day, you pick the safe and comfortable speed
Drunk riders; 0 hours a day
20 deaths a year is about 20 too many. For anyone to justify this because this is the long-term average is nuts. Lets all shoot for 0 a year.
This all comes down to what occurs between your right thumb and that 6ish pound lump of skin and bone (and to varying amounts depending upon the rider, brains) that we put our $300 helmets. It is our problem, let's fix it ourselves!
While deaths are tragic, especially to the families involved, the majority of the ones I see reported are not caused by Ronnie Racers.....they cause their share of accidents but the majority of deaths, at least in the central U.P. is people riding WAY beyond their own abilities trying to keep up and they end up french kissing a local beech, or pine, or whatever.....that and alcohol with same net result........
What I would like to know is the stats on riders injured in a season in MI & WI. A hospial employee at Eagle River Hospital told me snowmobile injuries come in fast & furious every winter weekend. I was taken back by what he told me no idea about the non death snowmobile carnage because we don't hear about that by the media only deaths as the ultimate loss. I think we would all be surprised by sheer number of injuries. I ride about 3500 miles a year and come up to snomo vs tree accident on trail once a season. Most walk away.. some limp away very shaken & bruised sleds always wrecked. With all my miles I have not seen contact between 2 or more sleds always has been trees or layed over sled very surprisng there is not more sled to sled contact out there.
What happend at T? We come to intersection time to wait... tighten pack up & regroup.
I'm not sure why he did not see the intersection. They were in a group so snow dust, following too close, perhaps snowing heavy, not sure. Looks like over driving the conditions present. Sounds like he had impact with a tree, or pole. Not sure where it was at, or when. Sounds as if he was in the hospital for some time. Just returned home this past week. I was the best of friends with his older brother. But he died of cancer in his early 20's.
Understandable... sure hope he is ok. Did he have any protection on?
Just did some research. There have been 20 fatalities in Michigan this snowmobile season. There were 14 last season, of those 14 deaths 10 were due to the rider being impaired by either alcohol or drugs. If you wish to review this information go to. Michigan DNR/Law Enforcement. The majority of deaths is because people are riding while impaired, I'm sure when all of the data for this season is compiled impaired driving will again be the major problem.
LoveMyDobe
Active member
Amen from an ex groomer widow.
This makes a lot of sense. Slow the F down when there is oncoming traffic or passing stopped sleds. Wait to pass until the group ahead of you waves you on, even if it slows you down a bit. We typically stop and shoot the breeze if we come up on a slow group that doesn't let you pass. We're on vacation - we ride fast but no reason to try to pass on a 12 ft wide trail.