OPP patrolling trails, reminding snowmobilers to stay off the ice and ride safe
Police say no ice is safe ice
The region’s trails are bustling with snowmobiles.
Riders should not be surprised if they encounter the Ontario Provincial Police. They will be out enforcing the rules and conducting R.I.D.E. spot checks.
Police are urging riders to stick to the trails despite the frigid conditions and not chance riding on area lakes. Photos and video released by police last week showed pressure cracks and patches of open water on Lake Simcoe.
The OPP released a video on Saturday warning the public how little time is available to an individual should they enter frigid water.
Cold water immersion can be deadly and the time to self-rescue is short. You have about one minute to control your breathing. Then about ten minutes of effective movement, beyond that you will begin to lose mobility and within an hour you may begin lose consciousness. pic.twitter.com/cUUK03jHrV
— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) February 13, 2021
Collingwood OPP and Huronia OPP officers recently teamed up with members of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to conduct snowmobile patrols on area trails. Of the 300 sleds that were stopped, charges were issued for failure to have a trail pass and one operator was nabbed for wearing a snowboarding helmet.