14
SAFETY
Operator Safety
Excessive Speed
WARNING
High speed driving, especially at night, could result in serious injury or
death. Always reduce s peed when driving at night or in inclement
weather.
Always observe all laws governing snowmobile operation and speed
limits. Always be alert and pay attention to the trail ahead. Multiplying
speed (MPH) by 1.5 will equal the approximate number of feet per
second your machine travels. If your speed is 40 MPH, your machine
is traveling about 60 feet per second. If you look back for only two
seconds, your machine will travel about 120 feet. If your speed is 60
MPH, your machine will travel about 180 feet in two seconds.
Traveling at night requires extra caution. Check headlight and taillight
to ensure proper operation, and don’t over-drive your headlight beam.
Always be able to bring your machine to a stop in the distance
illuminated by the headlight.
Driving on Slippery Surfaces
WARNING
Never attempt an abrupt change of direction when operating on
slippery surfaces. Proceed slowly and use extra caution.
Driving on ice or hard-packed snow reduces steering and braking c ontrol,
which may result in loss of control and serious injury or death. Slow
down and use extra caution when operating on slippery surfaces.
Driving Downhill
When riding downhill, shift your weight to the rear of the machine and
reduce your speed to a minimum. Apply just enough throttle to keep
the clutch engaged, allowing the engine’s compression to help slow the
machine and keep it from rolling freely downhill.
WARNING
When driving on long downhill stretches, pump the brakes. Riding the
brakes may cause the brake system to overheat, which may result in
brake failure.
Excessive or repetitive use of the brakes for high speed stops will also
cause an overheated brake system. This condition may lead to a sudden
loss of brakes and/or fire and may result in serious injury or death.