WD; I don't know if he was wearing any kind of "protection". My best guess is he was not. And yes I totally agree with the impairment issue. But there again, "reckless conduct" will apply to being impaired due to alcohol, drugs, or clean. Higher insurance costs on all their vehicles, and other costs will change peoples act. I don't intend to be over the top on this enforcement, but know one has the"right" to operate in a way to endanger others.
Slow down in the UP
- Thread starter larboc
- Start date
Well said Hoosier, no reason to not slow down near other riders, plenty of trail to ride as one likes but have the decency to respect other riders by slowing down when passing (in either direction).
Rode in Northern WI on Friday and had no issues with oncoming traffic-We slowed down, they slowed down, once past ride as you will.
For the impaired riders or those who have no regard for others, I have no answer how we can get around that.
Interesting thread!
This problem has been around since the early 90's. I started riding in the Three lakes, Eagle River area, back then. Its always been a problem, people cutting corners(in the day!!!), not respecting other riders, parking/stopping sleds at a corner, drinking and riding, etc. I used to race snowmobiles professionally, so I know what driving to fast for conditions is. I have done it, everyone has done it. When I first noticed it was an issue, we started riding at night, late at night, from 1:00am - to 6:00am. We would leave Chicago at 4:30pm on a Friday, head up to Wisconsin, get up to Eagle River at 11:30pm, get ready and hit the trail. Sleep till 3:30pm or so on Sat., play on the lakes till, nightfall, than have at it again. Then we slowly started to migrate to the UP area, do to all the traffic on the Wisconsin trails, the less traffic, the less the risk. I don't get up to sled much anymore, but the times I have, my perception of danger, has not changed. It's like riding a Motorcycle, its dangerous. Why? 90% not because of you, its everyone else!! You have to be a defensive driver on a Motorcycle and or a Snowmobile.
This problem has been around since the early 90's. I started riding in the Three lakes, Eagle River area, back then. Its always been a problem, people cutting corners(in the day!!!), not respecting other riders, parking/stopping sleds at a corner, drinking and riding, etc. I used to race snowmobiles professionally, so I know what driving to fast for conditions is. I have done it, everyone has done it. When I first noticed it was an issue, we started riding at night, late at night, from 1:00am - to 6:00am. We would leave Chicago at 4:30pm on a Friday, head up to Wisconsin, get up to Eagle River at 11:30pm, get ready and hit the trail. Sleep till 3:30pm or so on Sat., play on the lakes till, nightfall, than have at it again. Then we slowly started to migrate to the UP area, do to all the traffic on the Wisconsin trails, the less traffic, the less the risk. I don't get up to sled much anymore, but the times I have, my perception of danger, has not changed. It's like riding a Motorcycle, its dangerous. Why? 90% not because of you, its everyone else!! You have to be a defensive driver on a Motorcycle and or a Snowmobile.
snobuilder
Well-known member
most deaths are single sled incidents.
scoot
Member
We notice the deaths and serious injuries. But go to a snowmobile club meeting and ask how many people had recent close calls or even bent their sleds after being run off the trail. The numbers are disturbing. Even worse, you'll hear someone say to just brush it off and drive more defensively. It's like it doesn't count unless someone gets seriously hurt or worse. With today's technology, the speed difference between the leisure riders and and the trail racers has become too great to share the same trail. Today MR Magoo can buy a sled and ride a steady 100 mph on a public trail. Thats scary.
We used to be able to advise peeps to ride weekdays to escape some of the weekend madness. This year it didn't make much difference we were all forced to the same trails in the same area for the best conditions. Even our less traveled remote UP trail cherries had been attacked by Ricky Racers in large packs during the week with just average snow conditions. I didn't like that very much but understood what was happening & was more careful. Here is hoping we have more wide spread snow conditions next year that will take the load off WUPMI & we will be able to back off some of these people problems that we have this season.
Common sense is the key here. those that ride over there head are at risk. You know who you are. Usually alcohol plays a role as well. Just finished listening to Warren Buffet regarding the auto insurance business. 1st time in 50 years that deaths are up....texting and distracted drivers are the cause. Might want to be more cautious on your way to your snowmobile destination. That's the real risk..time to start taking DL's from people texting and driving. I have started calling them in.
snobuilder
Well-known member
...either that or every mannie out doing each other in HP these days....and many of the 260 HP I-4 turbos and 300 hp NA v-6 are in wrong wheel drive vehicles.
obviously consumers keep wanting more and more HP in there everyday drivers as well as rec. vehicles....I know I do....LOL
I just think some signage on and around the trails would do more than you think.
In Wis it's 55mph at night, which I think is a good thing. There are a lot of signs reminding you it's 55mph at night! That makes people aware.
Add some some signs that say, something to the effect of "Speed Kills" "Slow Down for Oncoming Traffic" "Pass Safely"
I think you'd be surprised just what some signs like that would do.
In Wis it's 55mph at night, which I think is a good thing. There are a lot of signs reminding you it's 55mph at night! That makes people aware.
Add some some signs that say, something to the effect of "Speed Kills" "Slow Down for Oncoming Traffic" "Pass Safely"
I think you'd be surprised just what some signs like that would do.
MDNR removing signs did not work and made things worse. The signs remaining are 20 + years old and faded. They need to update them and add a lot more, corner ahead, bridge ahead etc. I would have been dead along time ago if I didn't have the trails memorized. MI has the worst signing anywhere! If your from WI or MN watch out MI has no signs. I like to lead so my son and friends don't miss one because there not familiar with the trail.
Biz
Biz
krupps_resort
New member
Michigan will take the blunt of all of the fatalities and otherwise snowmobile accidents because it's about the only State with enough snow to ride. So many if's, and's, maybe's and because's and so many excuses.
groomerdriver
New member
Agree totally!
illinoistim
New member
21 deaths is way too many. Maybe we should have one way trails. That would help a lot in the them killing someone else department.
POLARISDAN
New member
almost all the deaths are single sled
journeyman
New member
Sounds like a real good father figure......NOT!!
Blaming signage or one way trails is ridiculous. It still is a ride at own risk. Its not anybody else's responsibility to put more signs up so you dont miss a corner. People that need every sign brand new and bright to keep control of machine should not be riding. I hate to see the injuries and deaths as well but there isn't some great solution. People crash cars, motorcycles, atvs, bicycles, etc. all the time.
You can't blame signage but signage makes people aware. Awareness is what we are talking about here.
Why do you think they have DUI commercials on the radio all the time - to make people aware.
Adding signage would only help not hurt.
It's not feasible to patrol every dang trail, and if they did no one would even ride because it would be a hassle.
Why do you think they have DUI commercials on the radio all the time - to make people aware.
Adding signage would only help not hurt.
It's not feasible to patrol every dang trail, and if they did no one would even ride because it would be a hassle.
How would that help given that most of the deaths involved only one sled? The bottom line is slow down at night, don't drive through snow dust and lay off the booze. Most of us on here have probably broke each of these three suggestions at one point in our lives on sleds. more signs won't help people breaking these three items.