Off-Road Basics—Riding Your ORV
Reading and Traversing Terrain
To ride safely, you need to be able
to assess the terrain ahead of you
and understand the capabilities of
your machine.
- Stay on existing trails. Avoid dangerous terrain such as steep slopes, marshes, and swamps. Also, keep an eye out for large holes, ruts, bumps, debris, and other obstacles.
- Travel at speeds appropriate for the terrain, visibility, operating conditions, and your ability.
- Constantly scan the path ahead of you to pick the safest route around obstacles or hazards.
- Carefully approach hills, turns, and other obstacles.
- Be especially alert when traveling over unfamiliar terrain.
Safety Tips
Don’t ride alone.
Avoid alcohol and drugs.
Don’t operate tired.
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Riding on Different Types of Terrain
Snow
ORVs and all other wheeled vehicles are prohibited from using state snowmobile trails unless designated for ORV use.
- Ride only on firm snow or groomed
trails where permitted by law. Riding
on soft snow can damage the terrain.
- Watch for snow drifts. They may cause an accident or cause you to get stuck.
Sand Dunes
- Mount an antenna flag on your ORV so others can see you.
- Avoid riding on vegetation or wet sand.
Crossing Roads and Highways
Because ORVs are designed for off-road
use, they can be difficult to handle
on paved surfaces. Riding on or crossing
a road illegally or improperly is a leading
cause of ORV rider fatalities.
If you must cross a road, follow
this safe procedure.
- Stop at a right angle to the road.
- Pick a crossing point where
you have good visibility in both
directions.
- Bring your vehicle to a complete
stop on the shoulder of the road.
- Look both ways, and yield to
oncoming traffic.
- Proceed forward slowly because
your ORV may be difficult to
maneuver on pavement.
- Drive straight across the road.
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ORVs legally operate on ORV
trails.
Cars legally operate on roads. |
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