In Michigan, a child of any age can operate a snowmobile if they are under direct supervision of their parent or guardian or if the child is on property owned or controlled by the parent. Wow! What if someone owns 20 acres of property and they allow there eight year old to tear around on a snowmobile without their supervision? The child could wonder off the property i

A buddy of mine lost his best friend in 8th grade due to a snowmobiling accident. The child failed to follow one of the most important rules of the sport, which is to always ride with at least one other person. He was riding along a dirt road, a path from his Grandma’s house to his house that he had taken a hundred times before, when he lost control and flew off the side of the road into a tree. Because of his speed, he was killed instantly. Had he been with someone else he may have been driving a little more collectively that day. Also he died at the tender age of 15, an inexperienced and young rider. This is a situation that can be prevented if the laws were more stringent.

In addition, most of the counties in the Midwest that support snowmobile recreation “show results that most accidents are caused by two main factors in a 1999 survey: access speed and visibility” (Rice 66). The law cannot handle speed. It would not be feasible or possible to have a budget big enough to put snowmobile police on all their trails. Visibility cannot be controlled either so the solution is null.

It is not possible to just jump on a sled and be able to learn the do’s and don’ts of the sport on one’s first trip. I believe it takes repetition in certain situations and many hours of riding before one can be experienced enough to ride on public trails with other riders. Without this, a person will endanger oneself and others. “With the countless hazards associated with operating a snowmobile, training is a crucial factor in safe and responsible snowmobile operation” (Preboth 25). The states where snowmobiling is prevalent should fund private trail areas where beginners can practice and develop themselves into experienced riders. According to Preboth, newly licensed drivers should be restricted to snowmobiling during daylight hours on groomed trails only and should be caring around a learner’s permit (24). Although safety training is “encouraged”, it is not mandatory.

In 1998, there were 2.3 million registered snowmobiles in the United States alone. The economic impact “including clothing, accessories, eq

Some topics in this essay:
Sport Flying, Snow Monkeys, According Preboth, age operate, ski rut, snowmobiling accidents, child age, age inexperience, 17 age,