(FORT FRANCES, ON) – A mild start to the winter season combined with heavy snowfall is making ice conditions in the Region treacherous. The Rainy River District Detachment wants to remind the public that the ice conditions this winter are inconsistent and could be dangerous.
Travelling on unsafe ice, speeding, driving too fast for the conditions and alcohol/drug consumption continue to be leading contributing factors in OPP-investigated snowmobile fatalities.
Remember that it is never 100 percent safe to snowmobile on ice. This is why the OPP recommends that snowmobilers avoid unnecessary risks and take the time to learn the ice. It is also important to be prepared, invest in a proper floatation suit, keep your machine well maintained, and have the basic survival equipment on your person.
Snowmobile safety remains an important component of the OPP’s public safety mandate and its Provincial Traffic Safety Program. The Canadian Red Cross offers tips on ice safety. You can view this information by visiting redcross.ca.
