EExecutive councilor who represents Coos County is calling for a rider education program to keep the sport safe

In the wake of recent crashes on rented snowmobiles, two of them fatal, the executive councilor who represents Coos County is calling for a rider education program to keep the sport safe and viable. Since the season began, New Hampshire Fish and Game representatives report nearly 20 crashes, with both fatalities and most of the accidents occurring in Coos County and stemming from inexperienced riders. On Friday, Executive Councilor Joe Kenney supported legislation mandating more education and will reach out to legislators, as well as begin a dialogue with stakeholders that include the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Safety, the New Hampshire Trails Bureau, and the snowmobile clubs. “We’re asking what can we do to increase safety when we’re renting out machines that are high-powered machines to inexperienced people,” he said. s not enough,” said Kenney. On Jan. 23 in Berlin, a Massachusetts woman, who was riding a rental from Northeast Snowmobile and ATV Rentals in Gorham, was killed in a snowmobile crash.