Each winter, as snowmobilers take to the trails, word of alcohol related accidents and fatalities start making their way to the headlines of our local newspapers once again. Although most snowmobilers are safe, conscientious riders, it only takes those few abusers to put the safety and lives of our loved ones at risk.

Scientific studies have shown that a driver's reaction time and ability to control their vehicles are impaired at and above .08. Braking, steering, speed control and attentiveness are all compromised. Another serious by-product of alcohol consumption is the accelerated rate that the body temperature will drop, thus increasing the risk of hypothermia.

On September 30, 2003, Wisconsin's "Operating while Intoxicated" (OWI) standard for drunk driving was reduced from a Blood/Breath Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.1 to 0.08. It is illegal to operate a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol or drugs while on any property that is held open to the public, which generally means trails, routes, lakes, rivers or corridors. It is also illegal to operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs on private property if you have a crash that involves personal injury and you did not have permission to ride on the property. A person can be in violation of specific rules while under the influence of lesser concentrations of alcohol as well.

During the 2005-2006 season Wisconsin had close to a record year the number of fatalities on our trails. There were 36 snowmobile-related fatalities in Wisconsin. Of those 36 fatalities, 18 had a BAC over 0.08, the legal limit at the time, reflecting 50 percent, while an additional 2 fatalities had BAC levels ranging from 0.044 to 0.061. Whether it is the intoxicated snowmobiler himself who is seriously injured or killed, or those unfortunate individuals who happen to be sharing the trails with the intoxicated snowmobiler, the results are the same. Family and friends lives will forever be changed.

In an effort to curtail alcohol use while riding, the international snowmobile community has spearheaded a "Zero Tolerance" campaign, asking all of us to save the drinking until the sleds are safely parked for the evening. Clubs, county and regional alliances, and state associations throughout North America have asked their members to take the pledge, "Zero Tolerance, I say, Til I'm done for the day" with hopes that, one day soon , alcohol use while snowmobiling will be a thing of the past. Snowmobilers Against Drunk Riders, Inc. asks you to please ride responsibly. Make this year the safest yet!!! Your family and friends want you to return home at night.