Snowmobile safety
Stop: Arm raised from the shoulder and extended straight up over the head with palm of hand flat Left Turn: Left arm extended straight out from the shoulder and pointing in the direction of the turn. : Bend your left arm at the elbow to shoulder height; with your hand pointing straight up and your palm flat, your arm should make a right angle. Guide your snowmobile to the right while pointing to the trail over your head, so your signal can be seen. Left arm extended out and down from the side of the bodywith a downward flapping motion of hand to signal warning or caution. Arm raised, elbow bent with thumb pointing backward, in hitchhiking motion move arm forward to backward over your shoulder.Snowmobilers top the list of those who get caught and perish in avalanches in North America. Understanding the basics of avalanche safety is important for those wanting to snowmobile in avalanche country. It is strongly recommended that you take an avalanche-training course with a field session to learn what to look for.
Avalanches that involve people do not randomly occur. Over 90 percent of the time, the victims or someone in their group triggers the snow slide. This means that avalanches could generally be avoided if snowmobilers would learn to follow avalanche safety procedures. The following information is a general introduction to avalanche safety. For additional information, visitwww.fsavalanche.org.As you travel on your snowmobile through trails and on roads, there will be traffic signs along the way that apply to snowmobiles. When on roads, remember that all traffic signs for automobiles also apply to snowmobiles, including highway speed limits if you are operating in a highway road ditch. Knowing what these signs mean can help keep you out of danger, make your trip more enjoyable, and protect the rights of property owners. Respecting these signs and following the rules they communicate will help assure an enjoyable ride for you and protect the future of snowmobiling. Here are some of the signs you might see on your trip. Remember that each state may have different signs for snowmobiles, so always check with the state you are riding in for information.