Last Updated: Thursday, February 7, 2008 10:18 AM CST
DNR reports 15 snowmobile fatalities so far this year
by Luke Laggis - Daily News City Editor - llaggis@rhinelanderdailynews.com
The dangers of snowmobiling have been in the headlines with the deaths of prominent Minocqua area figure John Ames in December and most recently Chicago TV anchorman Randy Salerno, who died while riding on a friend's sled in Sayner, but the trails have been no more deadly this year to date than last.
Through Feb. 6, there had been 15 snowmobile-related deaths in the state. Last season, the count reached 15 on Valentine's Day and 26 deaths were reported overall on the season.
There are a variety of factors that contribute to the number of accidents and fatalities on the trails. Snow is certainly a factor. When it comes early and there's plenty of it, more snowmobilers take to the trails. A longer season can mean more accidents and more fatalities, but that's not always the case. Department of Natural Resources Recreational Safety Warden Bill Yearman in Eau Claire said there have been bad snow years with high fatality totals, so more snow doesn't necessarily translate clearly through to more accidents. Sometimes bad snow years are warmer winters, which can mean dangerous ice conditions.
The biggest factors in snowmobile fatalities, and snowmobile accidents in general, are speed and alcohol.
“We do know that speed is a leading factor in all accidents,” Yearman said.
According to the DNR, 65 percent of all snowmobile accidents happen after dark, which was a strong contributing factor in the state passing legislation to limit speeds to 55 mph at nighttime. The speed limit was in effect as an emergency rule last winter after the 2005-2006 season resulted in 36 fatalities. The record-high death total was 37 in the 2004-2005 winter.
Of the 15 fatalities this season, speed was listed as a factor on nine. Alcohol was also deemed a factor in nine of the fatalities.
One of the goals of the nighttime speed limit is to give law enforcement officials greater opportunity to make contact with those on the trails. With a set speed limit, officers can stop snowmobilers exceeding the limit and make sure they're following other regulations.
The new speed limit officially became law in November, though the law has an expiration date in 2010. Yearman said there isn't enough hard evidence to show the true impact of the 55 mph nighttime limit, but he said from what he's seen and heard, people are slowing down.
“I think the overall feeling is that people are,” he said. Most people will try to follow the laws, so I think yeah, it does slow people down.”
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