Youngsters love the snowmobiling season but OPP would like to provide some safety reminders.
For young people who have obtained a motorized snow vehicle operator's licence, be mindful of the following;
- Those under 12 years old can drive a snowmobile on private property only
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You can keep a MSVOL for basically your entire life as long as you don't get an Ontario drivers license. Once you turn 16 you can drive on roads with an MSVOL. I also got confirmation from our local OPP on this that this is correct.
Driving along highway
9 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle along a highway unless,
(a) the person has attained the full age of sixteen years; and
(b) the person holds a driver’s licence; or
(c) the person holds a motorized snow vehicle operator’s licence; or
(d) the person is a resident of any other province, country or state and holds a licence issued by such province, country or state which authorizes the person to drive a motorized snow vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 9 (1).
Driving across highway
(2) No person shall drive a motorized snow vehicle across a highway unless,
(a) the person has attained the full age of sixteen years; and
(b) the person holds a driver’s licence, a motorized snow vehicle operator’s licence or is a resident of any other province, country or state and holds a licence issued by such province, country or state which authorizes the person to drive a motorized snow vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.44, s. 9 (2).
For more experienced and fully licenced MSV operators, speed is often a factor in MSV collisions so adhere to the following speed limits;
- 50 km/h on snowmobile trails
- 50 km/h on roads where the speed limit is over 50 km/h
- 20 km/h on roads where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less
- 20 km/h in any public park or exhibition grounds
Check with your local municipality regarding snowmobile by-laws for roads within its boundaries. Some municipalities prohibit operation of MSVs on certain roadways within town limits.
For more information go to:
Ministry of Transportation: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/
