• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

NH Snowmobile Association

  • Join a Club
  • Snowmobilers
    • Snowmobile NH
    • Registration
    • Trail Map
    • Trail Conditions
    • Snowmobile Safety
  • News
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Grass Drags & Watercross
    • Ride-In
    • Trails Workshop
    • Annual Meeting
  • NH Grass Drags
    • Grass Drags & Watercross
    • Spectator Info
    • Race Schedule
    • Camping
    • Lodging
    • Racer Info
    • Race Results
    • Vendor Info
    • Sponsorship
    • Swap Meet
    • Directions
    • Fundraising Opportunities
  • Clubs
    • Club Resources
    • Fundraising Opportunities
    • Volunteers
    • Landowners
    • Annual Awards
    • Scholarships
    • Resources
  • Contact
    • Membership Voucher Help
    • Contact Your Club
    • Contact NHSA
    • Advertise
    • Officers and Directors
    • Committees
  • Shop
    • Club Membership
    • Store Account
    • Cart

NH Fish & Game Law Enforcement Encourages Hands On Handlebars

January 4, 2019 by NHSA

NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Encourages Hands On Handlebars

In an effort to address the outdated and often dangerous habit of using countdown hand signals while snowmobiling, NH Fish & Game Law Enforcement has produced a new sign asking riders to keep both hands on the handlebars.

Counting Down Does Not Add Up

The countdown hand signals are hand signals where riders indicate how many riders are in their group by holding up the corresponding number of fingers. Riders signal a countdown of the number of machines in their group until the “last in line” (closed fist) signal is given.

Although the countdown method of hand signals has been used and even taught for years, New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Law Enforcement Division strongly urges all riders not to use them.

NH-Law-Enforcement-Encourages-Hands-On-Snowmobile-Handlebars
Look for a new sign at trailheads.

False Sense of Security

The reason is twofold. First, use of these signals requires everyone in the group to ride with one hand on their handlebars, lessening the rider’s ability to control their machines. Secondly, these hand signals give riders a false sense of what is coming on the trail. (read related story)

No one knows how many machines are really coming up behind them. All too often riders will hold up a fist to indicate they are the last rider in the group only to have another group right behind them. The last one in line is never truly the last one in line!

Ways To Ride Safe

  • Always anticipate other riders on the trail and around the next bend.
  • Keep both hands on the handlebars and maintain control at all times.
  • While riding in groups, it is recommended that experienced riders be placed at the lead and at the end. Less experienced or younger riders should be placed in the middle of the group.
  • My Side is the Right Side – stay to the right side of the trail and maintain a safe following distance with the machine in front of you.

Please keep your hands on for safety!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Fish & Game Tagged With: Snowmobile Safety, Trail Riding

Primary Sidebar

Poll

Trail Food - What's your pleasure?

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Tags

Access Arctic Cat Awards Camp Sno-Mo Charity Clubs Design DIY Electric family Freestyle Fundraising Guest Writer Health History Ice ISMA Landowners Let’s Get Cookin Map New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum NH Grass Drags NHSA Office Polaris Race Into Winter Registration Fees Reviews Ride-In RTP Russia Ski-Doo Snowmobile People Snowmobile Rentals Snowmobile Safety Technology Trail Conditions Trailers Trail Riding Trail Work United Snowmobile Alliance Volunteers Watercross Yamaha

Footer

Shortcuts

  • Purpose of New Hampshire Snowmobile Association
  • New Hampshire Snowmobile Association History
  • NHSA Board Minutes
  • Privacy Policy

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • NH Snowmobile Clubs Raise $105,541 for Easterseals Camp Sno-Mo
  • How to Lead a Group of Snowmobiles: Essential Tips for Effective Rides
  • Seth Meyers Thanks Clubs – Win 4 Tickets to His NYC Show in Exclusive Auction
  • Snowmobile Clubs Donate Winter Gear to North Carolina Storm Victims
  • Ultimate Redneck Ice Cream Recipe: A Hilarious Sweet Treat!
  • North Carolina Hurricane Victims Request Help From NH Snowmobilers
  • The Bosak Power Toboggan Snowmobile Legacy

Tags

Access Arctic Cat Awards Camp Sno-Mo Charity Clubs Design DIY Electric family Freestyle Fundraising Guest Writer Health History Ice ISMA Landowners Let’s Get Cookin Map New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum NH Grass Drags NHSA Office Polaris Race Into Winter Registration Fees Reviews Ride-In RTP Russia Ski-Doo Snowmobile People Snowmobile Rentals Snowmobile Safety Technology Trail Conditions Trailers Trail Riding Trail Work United Snowmobile Alliance Volunteers Watercross Yamaha

New Hampshire Snowmobile Association © 2025

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.