Snowy weather is headed and our way and that means people will pull out their snow mobiles for a good run in the snow.  State officials say riders should take extra precautions to avoid accidents.  Safety tips include being alert, knowing the trail, and traveling at a reasonable speed, avoid wearing long scarves, and never go out alone.  Most importantly, snowmobile drivers should never drink alcohol before operating the machine.  There were 47 reported snowmobile accidents resulted in 1 fatality in Illinois last year.  State law requires that persons between the ages of 12 and 16 have a valid Snowmobile Safety Education Certificate of Competency issued by IDNR in order to operate a snowmobile alone. Snowmobile safety courses are available online at www.snowmobile-ed.com.