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January 02, 2004
Snowmobile Rules Changed
We have this in today's Warren Times-Observer thanks to Victoria Barone. Apparently the Forest Service has approved the new proposed rules that would allow minors to operate snowmobiles on public roads. The issue is obviously public health safety.
A U.S. Forest Service policy that will allow young people from ages 10 to 15 to operate snowmobiles on joint use roads on the Allegheny National Forest has been approved by Forest Service headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisc.According to Forest Supervisor Kevin Elliott, the Forest Service's law enforcement division has reviewed the policy and cleared the way for its implementation.
The policy allows persons 10 to 15 years old to drive snowmobiles on joint use forest roads as long as they hold a valid snowmobile safety certificate and are accompanied by someone at least 18 years old. The Forest Service plans to implement the policy in the 2003-2004 season.
Now, how crazy is that. Allowing 10 year olds to operate snowmobiles isn't just a hazard to them, they are a hazard to other forest users. Fortunately, at least some snowmobilers recognize the inherent problems associated with this proposal.
Tionesta Snowmobile Club Secretary Karen Atwood, who has taught snowmobile safety courses for nearly 30 years, has been in touch with the Forest Service since the idea was proposed.She strongly opposes the plan, saying it is dangerous. She pointed out that Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code does not allow 10-to 15-year-olds to legally operate a snowmobile on any state or township road and says there is good reason for that - people under the age of 16 do not have the experience or maturity to handle machines that often can exceed 100 miles per hour. According to Atwood, if someone is too young to legally drive a car, he or she is too young to drive a snowmobile.
In Pennsylvania, snowmobile drivers must carry liability insurance, wear helmets and those between age 10 and 15 years old must take a safety class to operate a snowmobile on any property other than their own or within a state forest system. Atwood noted that there is a big difference between state and national forest roads. The national forest roads are much more heavily used, she said. Oil and log trucks use national forest land and the general population can enter national forest areas free of charge. State roads are unplowed and not used by regular vehicles in the winter, she said. Joint use of the roads by snowmobilers and other vehicles increases the risk factor, Atwood noted.
Atwood said it also poses a problem because the young drivers cannot legally operate the snowmobiles outside of the national forest and the trails on the ANF connect to township joint use roads. Very often, snowmobilers are going to use township roads to get to services, food and lodging. Atwood thinks unless the areas are constantly patrolled, it will lead to 10- to 15-year-olds driving illegally on township roads.
...
Mead Township Supervisor Al Fox pointed out that the township has no roads designated as joint use for snowmobiles and other vehicles. They have been approached about this in the past, Fox said, "but it has never happened, for one reason or another."
Knowing the Forest Service will allow children as young as 10 to operate a snowmobile would definitely affect any decision like that in the future, according to Fox. "Snowmobiles are fun. I don't have a problem with them, but you're supposed to have a driver's license when you're on the highway," Fox said. "...I find it quite distressing that they would allow 10-year-olds to drive on even a semi-private trail."
The Times-Observer keeps new articles up for only about a week. Discuss this one here if you wish. You can also comment on their website.
Posted by jkleissler at January 2, 2004 01:04 PM
Comments
The Forest Service is just ignoring common sense. It is interesting how Karen points out that in some instances, these minors will have to break the law in order to access federal land. That's encouraging.
Posted by: Ryan Talbott at January 2, 2004 03:51 PM
They may be fun and all that stuff (hell, I had a great time the first one I rode on, and that was in the early 1970s when the machines were much dirtier and nosier than they are today), but "fun" doesn't mean the rules should be relaxed or changed. Yellowstone isn't the only place where fewer, not more, snowmobiles should be allowed.
Posted by: Alan Gregory at January 10, 2004 09:17 PM
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