Safety Guidelines

Using the Buddy System

• Use the “buddy system”— make each rider responsible for keeping track of another person.
• Ride in a group of two or more.
• Plan your ride, and leave a copy of your plan at home or with a friend.

Riding Within Your Personal Limits

• Know your personal limits and your abilities, and work within them.
  • Know what you can do—as well as what you can't do.
  • Don't try to keep up with your friends. If they are more experienced, you easily can get into situations that are beyond your abilities.
  • Even when you're experienced, remember that you still don't know everything. Be prepared for unexpected situations.
• But, if you always stay within your personal limits, how can you develop new skills and abilities?
  • Challenge your limits once in a while. It's normal to want to try new things. However, do so in practice situations, not out on the trail.
  • Have an experienced rider supervise your practice session and help you if needed.
  • Practice one new skill at a time, and start slowly. Trying to learn too many new things at once can be frustrating and dangerous.

Preparing Yourself Before a Ride

Riding an OHV is physically demanding, and riding for hours at a time requires stamina. To enjoy your time on the trail fully, you should:

• Be in good physical condition.
• Get plenty of sleep, and eat nutritious food before and during your ride.
• Drink plenty of water to replace fluids you lose through sweating, even in the cold.
• Avoid riding when you are ill or fatigued, which affects your judgment and reaction time and can lead to serious injury.

Staying Alert To Avoid Fatigue

Long hours of riding added to the effects of motion, wind, engine noise, and vibration cause fatigue. Fatigue impairs judgment, slows reaction time, and can cause accidents. To reduce fatigue:

• Counteract the effects of wind, cold, and rain by dressing properly for the weather.
• Know your endurance limit, and don't drive beyond it.
• Take a break at least once an hour.

Riding Single File With a Group

• Leave adequate space between vehicles, and maintain a safe speed. If the rider in front of you suddenly applies the brakes, you should be far enough behind to stop or maneuver in time to avoid a collision.
• Calculate safe distances using a reaction time of at least three seconds. As the vehicle in front of you passes an object, count one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, and one-thousand-three. If you pass that same object in less than three seconds, you should allow more space.
• Be sure everyone performs a pre-ride inspection. Your brakes and brake lights may work, but your safety also depends on the other riders.
• Be sure everyone in the group knows the proper hand signals for turning, slowing down, and stopping. These simple hand signals can prevent serious accidents.
• If you're not in a group and someone is tailgating you, let him or her pass.