Most people enjoy a drink sometimes—but if you’re on a sled, that beverage should be coffee, tea, hot chocolate—anything, provided it’s non-alcoholic. Snowmobiling associations across Canada maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding sledding and drinking.
Sledding on thin ice
Snowmobiling requires alertness and quick reflexes. After a few brewskies, you might be able to walk a straight line—but could you operate machinery? Even small amounts of alcohol can significantly reduce reaction times. Additionally, any degree of impaired judgement could mean the difference between noticing and avoiding terrain traps and snowmobiling into avalanche zones or across unstable ice.
Lose your licence—or your life?
Sledding and driving under the influence of alcohol carry the same legal ramifications. A sledder could lose his or her licence to operate any motorized vehicles.
Alcohol is implicated in up to 70 per cent of snowmobile fatalities, and also increases susceptibility to hypothermia. Particularly for those heading into remote areas, this could literally meant the difference between life and death.
Lead by example
Choosing not to imbibe also sets a good example for the upcoming generation of sledders, and helps change any negative public perceptions of motorsports enthusiasts.
Fortunately, many sledders have already taken the zero-tolerance policy to heart, understanding that there is no safe amount to drink before a ride.
