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26 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 19, 1991 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" r Inti c. 1891 by CRAIG NICHOLSON - All Rights Reserved SNOWMOBILING ACCIDENTS I'm a snowmobiler and I'm upset. Every year there are media reports" of snowmobiling accidents that by inference and omission create the impression that anyone who snowmobiles is either dangerous or certifiable. I prefer to think it's bad breath. Not that snowmobiling can't be dangerous. That potential always exists when motion, hard objects, and humanity combine. Like when I got beaned at a Blue Jays' game. But that doesn't mean that all snowmobilers are reckless. Or that all snowmobiles are wrecked. Or that all spectators get ball- bopped. Most media reports state that so and so was injured or killed while snowmobiling near such and such a place. They may indicate that a rock or a car or a tree was involved. And they never miss the opportunity to say someone went through the ice. As if all ice is too thin. What they rarely note are the real reasons behind the accident. Was excess speed a contributing factor? Most snowmobile accidents involve loss of control or going too fast or both. With the recent proliferation of muscle sleds, speeds are increasing, Certainly the manufactureres must accept some responsibility for this acceleration, but the irresponsible drivers of these too- large machines are the real culprits. But not every snowmobiler owns a high performance sled. Or abuses it. Do we need to go so fast? Do we need to have the police enforce trail speed limits as they do in some New England States? Does the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) need to consider prohibiting muscle machines from our trails? Like on our highways, speed is a contributing factor in too many snowmobiling accidents. But that doesn't mean that all snowmobilers are reckless speeders. Is the accident alcohol related? Most are. The sad truth is that too many people drink and drive. It happens on our highways, so it's no surprise on the snow. Too many do on a snowmobile what they might never do in a car. Too few realize that they can lose their driver's licence or insurability from snowmobile drinking offences. The Ministry of Recreation and Tourism (MTR), in co-operation with the OFSC Safety Committee, has launched a "RIDE SAFE, RIDE SOBER" and "BOOZE 'N SNOW DON'T GO" campaign this season to combat snowmobiling bar-hopping. But most snowmobilers are not impaired. Darkness is another contributing factor. Night driving involves differences in visual perception, temperature and snow conditions that can be lethal. The assumption that one can safely drive off into the night has seen too many snowmobilers lost or injured or worse. How many deaths occur in familar locale because the rider has become disoriented? Danger happens faster at night and personally, I no longer ride after dark because I don't like the odds. And many other snowmobilers do likewise. Media reports that do indicate a collision with a rock or a car or a tree, or even another machine, often fail to say where the accident occured. Most do not happen on OFSC trails. So the victims were not snowmobiling in the right place. So whose fault is that? Certainly not that of the thousands of snowmobilers who regularly use OFSC trails without incident. The same applies to going through that all-too-thin ice. Clubs try to route trails to avoid water crossing entirely, or to cross bridges, or at worst, to choose the safest crossings possible and mark them well. The great majority of drownings happen elsewhere, where no one has gone before, where the day-to-day conditions are in doubt, or where there simply was no ice. If you don't know, dont go, and if in doubt, ask. But the fact is that most drownings do not occur on OFSC trails, so what does that say about where you should be riding? Rarely do I read that the deceased was not wearing a helmet, or that there were three people on a one-person machine, or that the driver was inexperienced or that horseplay was involved or that many of the other contributing factors occurred simultaneously. Just that there was another accident. Another crazy snowmobiler down. Another tragic accident in a lunatic sport. Are we all so dangerous and reckless and carelss? I think not. Police and media reports should contain all the facts, both to promote snowmobiling safety and to encourage local sledders who snowmobile with caution, control and care. Then maybe Wi friends will come out from behind their smirks. And I] PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER Key Bar Juveniles come up big as they defeat Uxbridge 5-2 Monday, Nov. 11, Port Perry Key Bar Juveniles travelled to Uxbridge. Port's superior pen- alty kil ing, passing plays and defensive work earned them a 5-2 victory over their rivals. Uxbridge opened the scoring in the first period with a pow- er play goal but Port Perry quickly bounced back with a goal from Stuart Dyer with as- sists going to Scott Koenzies and Mike Sorley. Bar went ahead when Dove Fitz- gerald took advantage of a goal mouth scramble and put the puck past the Uxbridge goalie. Mike Sorley got the as- sist on Derek's goal. Jerry Douma followed with two goals in a row to give Port Perry a 4-1 lead. Stuart Dyer and Scott Menzies got assists on the first goal and Scott Menzies made the pass on the second goal to pick up his third assist. Uxbridge scored one more in the first to end the period at 4-2, Port Perry was handed sev- en Jenaliies in the second pe- to two for the local team. Due to Key Bar's fine penalty killing and netminder Noel Lovering's big saves, there was no scoring in the period. Nm oF Prey . (ROO oe 4 p> "Uxbridge 852-3331 To | Free 1- -800-263- 2000 "The lone goal in the third period came from a great shot from Gary Stevens with as- sists going to Jan Heyes and Gerry Douma. Once again the game was a total team effort. The super passing plays made the game exciting and put a smile on the coaches faces. Gerry Dou- ma and Scott Menzies had three point nights with Stuart Dyer and Mike Sorley picking up two points each. Single points went to Derek Fitzge- rald, Jan Heyes and Gary Ste- vens. Port Perry Key Bar Juveniles extended their winning streak on Thursday, Nov. 14 with a 4-2 victory over visiting Oak- wood. Once again Port Perry came up with a fine two way effort featuring some great passing. Port Perry opened the scor- ing with a rebound goal from Mike Sorley. Ethan Lavereau and Derek Fitzgerald were credited with the assists. Oak- wood tied it up but Mike Sor- ley, left unguarded in front, ; off the net, picked up a beauti pass from Ethan Lavereau and put the puck past the sur- prised Oakwood mia Derek 1 | ] 'Uxbric dge, asp.ads Fitzgerald also assisted on the play. In the second period, Jeff Brett made it 3-1 after a neat tip ahead pass from Craig Leask. The other assist went to Jan Heyes. Oakwood came on a little stronger in the peri- od but thanks to goalie Ray Doyle, they came up empty until near the end of the frame when they finally got one by Ray to make it 3-2. Jody Wright put the game out of reach for Port Perry in the final period with a blast from the point . Derek Fitzge- rald picked up his third assist of the night on Jody's goal with the other assist going to Steve Staniland. Port Perry's next home game is Friday, Nov. 22 when they play host to Millbrook. Game time is 9 p.m. Unfortunately for the team, Port Perry is losing captain Mike Sorley, who due to a new job can no longer play week night games. Mike will cer- tainly be missed but the coach- es are confident that the rest - of the team will be able to dig down and work that much harder to pick up the slack. t HB? mm