‘They’re powerful’: Tragic deaths of Manitoba children prompt snowmobiling safety reminder

Kelvin Tiller with Snoman Manitoba shares his tips for staying safe while snowmobiling.

A Manitoba snowmobiling association is issuing a safety reminder in the wake of tragic deaths involving the vehicles.

Kelvin Tiller, director of the non-profit Snoman Inc., said snowmobiles should be treated with the same level of care and caution as vehicles that drive on the highway.

“They’re powerful, and you’ve got to learn the ins and outs and how to properly use these snowmobiles,” he said in an interview with CTV Morning Live Winnipeg.

The safety reminder comes after a 12-year-old girl died last week near God’s Lake Narrows when the snowmobile-towed toboggan she was riding on struck a tree stump, throwing her from the sled. Weeks prior, a 10-year-old boy died after a snowmobile crash near Rosebank, Man.

Both collisions are still under investigation by RCMP.

Tiller reminded snowmobilers that speed is the number one cause of accidents. Even if the trails are groomed and smooth, going too heavy on the throttle can be dangerous.

“Please slow down. You don’t know what’s coming around the next corner, so just mind your Ps and Qs, and just reduce your speed. That’s the number one cause.”

Helmets are mandatory, and anyone being pulled behind a snowmobile must wear one too, he added.

Also – be sure to stick to the trail, not just for safety reasons’, but because many run through private property with permission from the landowner. Straying from the path could mean access is revoked.

Still, Tiller said snowmobiling can be a safe and fun pastime if you’re properly trained. Snoman offers a training course to teach the ropes to snowmobilers of all ages.

“I recommend it. It’s a great way to teach your kids or any novice driver the total aspects of how to operate these machines.”

More details can be found on the non-profit’s website.

- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé and the Canadian Press