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.
- Riding over boardwalks and decks can be dangerous. Such
decks are often built over wetlands, and can be slippery.
ORV operators should cross these with extreme caution.
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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