Riding Safely and Responsibly

Developing Special Riding Skills

Carrying a passenger and riding at night involve special skills. As your basic riding skills progress, practice these skills.

Carrying a Passenger

• Carry a passenger only if your snowmobile is designed to; most are not.
• Ask passengers to stay seated so that they maintain the lowest center of gravity possible. By standing, they can affect your ability to maneuver the machine.
• Warn passengers about extending their arms and legs outside the machine where they may collide with branches or bushes.
• Before crossing a road, have passengers dismount and walk across.

Night Riding

• Accidents that occur at night usually involve snowmobiles running into stationary objects, such as trees, that come into view unexpectedly.
• Drive slowly so that you have time to recognize danger and react.
• Never “overdrive your headlight.” Make sure you can stop within the length of your headlight beam. A snowmobile high beam is effective for about 200 feet. To avoid a collision, travel slower than 30 mph. The stopping distance at this speed is about 220 feet.
• Always take these safety precautions.
  • Make sure your lights work properly, are clean, and are free of snow.
  • Don’t travel in unfamiliar areas.
  • Stay on established trails. Don’t blaze a new trail in the dark.
  • Always carry a flare or flashlight for emergency signaling.
  • Always ride in a group of two or more—never alone.
  • If you stop, pull off the trail so that you won’t be a hazard to others.
  • Be careful when riding in freezing rain because your face shield may freeze over.

Operating Safely in Darkness

• Slow down and watch for others at night or in low-light conditions.
• Be cautious on overcast days.
• Establish a point of reference when riding on large, open fields after dark. Estimating distances and directions may be difficult.

Remember … Many accidents are caused by focusing on the taillights of the snowmobile ahead of you. By focusing solely on the taillights, you may not notice slight turns in the machine that indicate the rider is avoiding a collision or an object on the trail.