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Responsible, Safe Snowmobiling - ALWAYS a priority
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ed Klim
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Snowmobile safety has always been a high priority with the manufacturers and organized snowmobiling. Many years ago the manufacturers worked with state and provincial associations and snowmobile administrators in creating the very first Safety Training Handbooks and developing snowmobile safety classes to be conducted by volunteers and DNR safety trainers.
Today, the manufacturers, along with the snowmobile community, are more involved than ever in making snowmobile safety a top of mind awareness issues for all snowmobilers. Beginning in 1995 the snowmobile manufacturers initiated the Safe Riders! You make snowmobiling safe™ safety campaign. Since its inception, the safety program has been widely endorsed and supported by snowmobile enthusiasts. Today, over 80% of snowmobilers, whether they are members of a state or provincial association or not, recognize the Safe Riders! logo and understand the campaign position statements. The campaign is a very straight forward campaign that brings to the forefront the need to analyze risks and not take improper risks while snowmobiling. The position statements are clear and understood and are best defined in reviewing the statements on each of the safety posters that have been designed and distributed by the manufacturers. Those position statements are:
- Snowmobiling and alcohol don't mix, don't drink and ride
- Know before you go! Always check local ice conditions
- When night riding, slow down! Expect the unexpected.
- Ride safe, stay on the trail. Respect private property.
- Know the risks, and be prepared. And make every trip a round trip.
- Cross with care, don't become roadkill
- Snowmobiling is a fun family life-style activity, join us today.
- Ride smart, ride right, stay in control
- One is the lonliest number, never ride alone
- Promote your right to ride, get involved
- Smart riders are safe riders, take snowmobile safety training
These position statements are all contained within the 12 separate, four-color posters designed to attract attention and help send the message clearly to snowmobilers and other recreationists. The posters are distributed to state and provincial associations, safety trainers, sheriff's offices, Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors bureaus and others in hopes that they will be prominently displayed and help communicate the messages to the snowmobiling public.
The manufacturers have encouraged a consistent message to be distributed to snowmobilers enabling the message to be better understood by snowmobilers from all states, provinces and all walks of life. The snowmobile community understands the synergy that occurs when we all sing from the same sheet of music, and using the Safe Riders! logo and the related campaign messages helps us all be better safe snowmobilers.
The manufacturers actively encourage safety training programs and work through the Safe Riders! campaign to support those efforts.
The campaign material includes not only the posters and the snowmobiling fact book, but also the Safe Riders! video and TV and Radio ready public service announcements. The video serves as an excellent visual support piece for safety training and can also be used at home to familiarize guests and family members of the importance of safe snowmobiling and key important related issues.
In the past, our critics would ask, "What is the snowmobile community doing to promote safety?" For years now we have responded with an explanation of our Safe Riders! safety campaign to promote safe, responsible, snowmobiling behavior. The manufacturers are steadfast in their support of safe snowmobiling and in particular, the Safe Riders! campaign.
The safety campaign recognizes that many of the accidents that occur while snowmobiling occur because a rider has consumed alcohol affecting reaction time and judgement. That reaction time and judgement affects speed, cornering, good judgement and decision-making abilities and over confidence. In addition to understanding the need for safe behavior, the manufacturers understand and support the need for properly marked and properly groomed trails that afford the best possible riding environment for snowmobilers.
The manufacturers invite all snowmobilers to participate in the International Snowmobile Safety Week. Yearly, the Safety Week Campaign Action Manual is made available on the ISMA web site to aid clubs or snowmobile related businesses in sponsoring safety events and how to plan for Safety Week.
The campaign is continually expanding to better serve the snowmobiling public and all of the materials are readily available through the ISMA office free of charge. To obtain an order form one can visit the Safe Riders! web site at www.snowmobile.org. When you are at the web site you will also be able to obtain a great deal of current information on snowmobiling. If you haven't been there in a while you will find new information, poll questions, an e-mail list to join for breaking news related to the life-style activity and Safe Riders! materials that can be downloaded for your immediate use.
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Safe Riders! Information
