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The Citizen, 2001-12-12, Page 11• dlt Auto Parts Plus r.mmmmm• Ammummomm We stock a full line of snowmobile parts & accessories See us for your snowmobiling needs! "Quality Parts plus Personal Service" Turnberry St., Brussels 887-8002 fax 887-8004 G & M Auto Parts SALES AND SERVICE HONDA, YAMAHA, SKI-D00 JOHN DEERE, SABRE TANAKA "Ibur Arctic Cat Siedquarters' ARCTIC CAP What Strowntobiliag's .411 Aboti t.TM Service to most makes of small engines Automotive farm and tire service 519-345-2248 Mike Kells MMIIINIMMIIMMENOM=1• WINGHANI • 357-3435 Jim Bauer SPECIALIZING IN * ROTAX CRANKSHAFT REBUILDING * CYLINDER REBORING * RE-SLEEVING * VALVE GRINDING COMPLETE MACHINE SHOP SERVICE Wingham (Hwy. 86 just east of Hwy. 4) (519) 357-3435 Fax (519) 357-3081 brought to you by e Advance Snowmobile Products NOW on SALE SAVE up to $1/liter at forma*, NICHOLSON CRAIG Paying a premium By Craig Nicholson (©2001 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.) 5 gal. 18.9 L Water jug with handle $17.99 includes 4 free fills (a $16. value) Kelvin - Cool & Cold -4- $249.00 water cooler includes 12 free fills (a $50. value) - All coolers have a 5 year warranty —Price does not include water bottle J.M. McDONALD LUMBER P.O. Box 170 flit Brussels, Ontario NOG 1H0 (519) 887-6277 Fax (519) 887-6244 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2001. PAGE 11. OFSC launches Safe Rider Snowmobile safety becomes a clear matter of personal choice this winter as the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) launches its new Safe Rider campaign across the province. Taking prompt action following recent coroner's jury recommenda- tions on snowmobile safety, the OFSC is sending every member from last season the new Safe Rider Pledge Card which outlines the responsible riding behaviours neces- sary to make the smart choice of becoming a Safe Rider. Snowmobilers willing to make the personal decision to follow these Safe Rider practices can signify their commitment by wearing the Safe Rider decal on their sled or helmet. They can even sign and mail in the Safe Rider pledge card to join the Safe Rider Club. "The Safe Rider Campaign is based on the premise that there is a large, silent majority of snowmobil- ers who already ride responsibly and are fed up with being luinped in with the irresponsible few who give snowmobiling a bad name," said OFSC President Dennis Burns. "Our goal is to use the peer pressure of thousands of snowmobilers wearing the Safe Rider decal to single out those who need to change their rid- ing behaviour." Safe Rider cards will also be dis- tributed on the snow by OFSC STOP officers, wardens and the SledSmart Safety Education Team. According to the Safe Rider Card, a Safe Rider is a snowmobiler who has made the personal decision to ride responsi- bly; is committed to making smart choices to reduce the risk of person- al injury or death while riding a snowmobile; rides defensively and makes snowmobile trailers safer by not putting others at risk; has read and understands the safety informa- tion on the Safe Rider card; and has pledged to make responsible prac- tices and techniques a lifetime riding habit. There is no room in the Safe Rider Campaign for irresponsible snow- mobilers. The Safe Rider card clear- ly states that "If you cannot accept and follow the responsible riding principles outlined in this Safe Rider material, you are likely engaging in high risk behaviour and have no right to wear or display the Safe Rider decal or to join the Sate Rider Club." "The OFSC has a duty of care to make responsible riding information available so that every snowmobiler can make a smart personal choice about their own way of snowmobil- ing," concluded Burns. "As one of many new initiatives under our ongoing SledSmart Public Education Safety banner, the Safe Rider Campaign will be take a call to action directly into snowmobilers' homes via a direct mailing in early December." The OFSC SledSmart Public Education Campaign has operated for the past ten years and is interna- tionally recognized as the leading edge in snowmobiling safety pro- grams. It has delivered millions of snowmobile safety messages through the print and electronic media, but this is the first time that responsible snowmobilers have been asked to make the personal choice to stand up and be counted as a Safe Rider. The announcement of the Safe Rider Campaign follows a recent call to action issued by the OFSC to sev- eral government ministries which has resulted in a key snowmobile safety meeting being scheduled on Dec. 18 in Barrie. The OFSC is committed to pro- moting safe, responsible riding on Ontario snowmobile trails by contin- uously improving safety standards, programs and enforcement through The price of a trail permit was not supposed to increase this season. The 268 OFSC clubs who vote on pricing had agreed to maintain the fee at its 1999/00 season level for a third win- ter. Permit materials were printed and _distributed showing that lower price. Then, like a giant mogul in the trail ahead, insurance unexpectedly reared its ugly head. Third Party Trail Liability Insurance covers landowners, clubs and volunteers in the event of claims arising from trail riding or related activities. Without trail liability insur- ance, all those associated with snow- mobile trails would be exposed and trails would close. So it's not a ques- tion of having it or not, or even of having it partially. The best landown- ers and volunteers deserve the best coverage and that's what the OFSC Trail Liability Insurance provides. Unfortunately, the cost of provid- ing it went through the roof this year. When OFSC clubs met for their annual meeting in September, the only premium on offer carried an astounding 883 per cent increase over the existing policy. Traditionally, the permit price includes an allocation for trail liability insurance. In antici- pation of an increase, the allocation this year was 100 per cent more than previously. Suddenly, there was not enough money in the existing permit price to cover insurance, so OFSC clubs voted for an increase of up to $30 per permit. Subsequently, a premium from another insurer was negotiated for only a 600 per cent increase, and the 2001/02 permit fee was finalized at a $10 increase. But the big question is, why the premium hike? A number of external factors came into play. An already hardening insur- proactive leadership, stakeholder partnerships, public education and driver training. ance market was worsened by the Sept. 11 events, causing insurers to reassess all risks. Acquisitions and mergers had reduced the number of companies offering the liability cov- erage needed for OFSC trails. But the primary reason was blunt: the risk ratio for snowmobiling was- n't profitable enough for insurance companies. This came as a surprise, given that only 25 per cent of snowmobiling incidents occur on the OFSC snow- mobile trails covered by liability insurance. Then those involved in snowmobile clubs were dismayed to hear that incidents involving illegal behaviour such as riding under the influence, speeding, not wearing a helmet and even riding nowhere near an OFSC trail were being included in their risk ratio. Trail liability insur- ance was getting caught up in the pinch between society's failure to force individuals to take full blame for their own stupidity and negli- gence, and its current propensity to make all of us pay for the unaccept- able personal choices that others make. And that's the bottom line, folks. A few irresponsible and careless snow- mobilers are costing all of us $10 more for our permits this season. Personally, I think it's unfair and worry about how high up is. What s your take? Until next time remember to be a Safe Rider this winter. For trail condition reports check ofsc.on.ca Craig Nicholson is a regular con- tributor to Snow Goer, Canada's Snowmobiling Magazine. The Intrepid Snowmobiler also appears on radio and on Snowmobiler Television. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author Taking aim It was the Bombers against the Kruisers in this ladies' match-up at the annual broomball tournament in Brussels during the weekend. (Vecky Bremner photo) Check out The Citizen's WEBSITE at www.northhuron.on.ca