Off-Road Basics—Riding Your ORV
Reading Terrain
- To ride safely, you need to be able
to assess the terrain ahead of you
and understand the capabilities of
your machine.
- It’s best to stay on existing trails and 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 a speed
that’s
prudent for the terrain, visibility,
operating conditions, and your ability.
- Carefully
approach hills, turns, and obstacles.
- Be
especially alert when traveling over
unfamiliar terrain.
- Constantly scan
the path ahead of you to pick the
safest route around obstacles or hazards.
Riding on Different Types of Terrain
Snow
- Ride only on firm snow or groomed
trails where permitted by law. Riding
on soft snow can damage the terrain.
- ORVs
and all other wheeled vehicles are
prohibited from using state snowmobile
trails unless designated for ORV
use.
Sand Dunes
- Avoid riding on vegetation.
- Avoid 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.
- 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.
- Cross at a right angle.
Safety Tips
- Don’t ride alone.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Don’t operate tired.
|
ORVs legally operate on ORV
trails.
Cars legally operate on roads. |
|
|
Printable
PDF Version
of Handbook
|
