With the snow continuing to accumulate in the area, Southern Georgian Bay OPP is offering a few quick pointers on snowmobile safety.
While snowmobiling is a "wonderful sport for most family members to enjoy the great outdoors," police say they continue to investigate incidents involving snowmobilers who are either suspected of being impaired or operating their sleds in a careless manner.
To ensure one doesn't become a statistic, the OPP urges snowmobilers to ride in control and adhere to trail conditions, obey posted speed limits, never drive impaired and remember that "no ice is safe ice."
Snowmobilers planning to head out on the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) trail system this weekend to enjoy the recent fresh snowfall are advised to check the trail they want to ride is open by clicking here.
"It also goes without saying that it is still early in the cold-weather winter season for local ice conditions to be up to expectations," say police, noting those thinking about venturing onto frozen lakes and rivers should check with local residents, ice-hut operators, weather stations or other reliable sources before heading out and possibly plunging into frigid waters.
"Ultimately, you may be risking your life, the lives of others possibly with you and that of emergency service responders tasked to rescue you, or worse to locate and remove you from the lake," says the OPP.
As well, sledders are reminded that commercial shipping is still open on the Great Lakes with a grain ship and possibly a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker arriving in Midland Bay next week.
