Michigan DNR reminds snowmobilers to "Ride Right," keeping safety in mind
(CBS DETROIT) - Plenty of snow cover in the state, along with a mid-winter holiday, means that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources expects a flurry of recreational snowmobile activity in the coming days.
Presidents Day, which is a federal and state holiday in Michigan, is Monday, and that means a three-day weekend for many people.
Ahead of the weekend, DNR sent out safety reminders from its Ride Right snowmobile campaign should recreational activities include snowmobiling. There have already been 10 snowmobile fatalities in Michigan during the 2024-25 winter.
"Unfortunately, many of the fatalities we see are related to factors that could have been avoided: speed, primarily, such as taking a corner too fast, not being able to stop in time and colliding into a tree, vehicle or another rider," said Cpl. Mike Hearn, snowmobile and off-road vehicle specialist with the DNR Law Enforcement Division.
Basic tips are to operate while sober, operate at a safe speed, and stay on the right side of the trail.
Additional reminders from the DNR include always wearing a helmet, only carry a passenger if the machine was manufactured for more than one person, and don't exceed the abilities of a group's least experienced rider.
Those who are riding on or near ice should monitor conditions for pressure cracks and other signs of breaking ice.
All snowmobile operators in Michigan age 12 through 16 must earn a state-approved snowmobile safety certificate to operate one without a legal guardian or to cross a highway or street.
Michigan's public snowmobile trails are free to use one weekend a year without a trail permit. Many of those public trails are in the northern and western parts of the state, including the Upper Peninsula. The free snowmobiling weekend for 2025 took place Jan. 17-19.
Information about snowmobile safety certificates, trail maps, permit information and safety reminders are at Michigan.gov/Snowmobiling.
