Local snowmobile association reports crash trends and calls for more safety-course participation

Michael Leviker, vice‑president of the Lewis County Snowmobile Association, presented a county and regional crash summary for the 2024–2025 season, detailing counts by county, township hotspots (including Martinsburg), crash circumstances (objects struck and primary contributing factors), time-of-day and day-of-week patterns, engine sizes and model years of involved sleds, and rider age cohorts.

Leviker reviewed safety-course history for crash‑involved riders and noted local course delivery in Lewis County typically ranges from 75 to 90 students year‑over‑year. He said statewide course participation has increased (from about 1,200 to 2,200) but raised concerns about boosting local youth participation. Leviker also noted registration trends — for example, a rise from about 104,000 to 105,000 registrations — and said a $20 registration increase has helped shore up trail funds and offset volunteer club costs.

He highlighted operational benefits from installing radios in groomers for dispatch communication, reiterated concerns about local course uptake, and closed with observations on visitation and riding patterns through Lewis County. Committee members heard the report; no committee-level action was recorded.