Snowmobiling in Canada is popular and a lot of fun when done safely. The focus on drinking and driving automobiles often overshadows the evidence that drinking and driving a snowmobile happens — A LOT. Teen Challenge responds.

It’s not uncommon to hear of at least one fatality involving a snowmobile and alcohol every winter season. Yet it continues to happen. A study done by Beirness, Mayhew, and Simpson for the Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada, shows that over a 5 year period almost 500 people were fatally injured while riding a snowmobile.

85% of those who died were driving, and 79% of those driving exceeded the legal BAC.

Dr. Steven Socransky, medical director of the trauma program at Sudbury Regional Hospital, said, “Alcohol is a factor in more than a quarter of all incidents and contributes significantly to mortality rates while less than 1% of snowmobile collisions are fatal, the chance of dying rises to 1 in 6 if the driver has been drinking.”

For more information on how alcohol impairs judgement, click here.

Find the report below

DJ Beirness, DR Mayhew, and HM Simpson

Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada, 171 Nepean Street, Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P 0B4

ABSTRACT

While the incidence of alcohol involvement in highway crashes has been well-documented, considerably less attention has been paid to the role of alcohol in fatal crashes involving off-road vehicles. Alcohol is commonly consumed in conjunction with recreational activities. If the use of a motor vehicle is involved, the risk of crash involvement would undoubtedly increase. This presentation examines the incidence of alcohol use among fatally injured operators of one particular class of vehicles - snowmobiles.

The presentation will examine data on fatal snowmobile crashes in Canada from 1987 through 1992. During this period, a total of 497 persons died in such crashes. Fatally injured drivers accounted for 82% of this total; passengers represented 13% and pedestrians 5%. Among fatally injured drivers who were tested for alcohol, 79% had been drinking. The characteristics of the crashes and the drivers involved will be examined. The implications of the findings in terms of programs and policies will be highlighted.

INTRODUCTION

The popularity of snowmobiling as a recreational activity has increased dramatically over the past decade. For example, between 1984 and 1992, the number of registered snow vehicles in Ontario more than doubled -- from 169,172 in 1984 to 366,730 in 1992 (Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 1994). Snowmobile enthusiasts in Ontario have formed 284 local snowmobile clubs as well as a provincial association. These clubs operate and maintain an expanding network of over 35,000 km of groomed snowmobile trails throughout the province. In addition, the Ontario government has invested millions of dollars towards the creation of a trans-provincial trail system to help create an environment conducive to safe and accessible snowmobiling. The economic impact of snowmobiling on the Ontario economy alone is expected to exceed $500 million this year.

The growth in snowmobiling, however, has been associated with increased concern about deaths and injuries as a result of snowmobiling crashes. For example, in 1987, 58 persons in Canada died in snowmobile crashes. In 1993, 98 persons died. The actual number of injuries as a result of snowmobile crashes is elusive. In Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation reports an average of about 400 persons injured in snowmobile crashes each year. Because not all snowmobile injuries are necessarily reported to the police, these figures are undoubtedly a severe underestimate of the true incidence of snowmobile-related injuries each year. Data from a recent survey of snowmobilers (Rowe et al., 1993) suggests that the actual number of snowmobile-related injuries in Ontario exceeds 7,000 per season -- more than 17 times the official figures.

The behaviour of snowmobile operators appears to contribute to a substantial number of crashes. Speeding, riding at night, travelling in unsafe areas (e.g., on lakes, roadways) and alcohol use have been identified as factors associated with a high risk of snowmobile crash involvement (Beirness et al., 1994; 1995; Erikson and Bjornstig, 1982; Rowe et al., 1993; Rogers et al., 1990).

The use of alcohol by snowmobile operators has become an issue of increasing concern. Alcohol is commonly consumed in association with recreational activities. When the activity happens to involve the operation of motor vehicle, the combination can have particularly tragic consequences. In recognition of the inherent dangers of operating a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol, the Criminal Code of Canada indicates that it is an offence to operate any type of motor vehicle -- including motorized snow vehicles -- while impaired or with a BAC in excess of 80 mg%. It does not matter whether the vehicle is being operated on a public roadway or on private property. The law and its penalties are applied to snowmobile operators the same as they are to drivers of highway vehicles.

This paper examines the extent of alcohol involvement in snowmobile fatalities in Canada during the seven-year period from 1987 to 1993. The characteristics of the crashes and victims are also examined.

To read the entire report, click here.