SAFETY INFORMATION 29
Even when a passenger is allowed, this person must be physically fit
for snowmobiling.
Any passenger must always be able to firmly lay his feet on the footr-
ests and keep his hands on the handholds or seat strap when seated.
Respecting those physical criteria is important to ensure that the pas-
senger is stable and to reduce the risks of ejection. Falls can result in
severe injury or death.
The operator has a responsibility to ensure the safety of his passenger
and should inform the passenger about snowmobiling basics.
Before riding the vehicle, adjust suspension according to weight. Refer
to
Tune Your Ride
subsection for more details.
Ask your passenger to inform you to slowdown or stop immediately if
he feels uncomfortable or insecure during the ride.
When going over bumps, riders(s) may raise their body slightly off the
seat to absorb the shocks with their legs.
An unforeseen bump can leave you passenger-less. Remind your
passenger to lean into the turn with you, without causing the vehicle to
topple. Be extremely careful, go more slowly and check the passenger
frequently. Keep a watchful eye on your passenger while riding.
Braking ability and steering control are reduced when riding with a
passenger. Decrease speed and allow extra space to maneuver.
RRiiddiinngg AAlloonnee
Venturing out alone with your snowmobile could also be hazardous.
You could run out of fuel, have an accident, or damage your snowmo-
bile. Remember, your snowmobile is capable of traveling further in half
an hour than you may be able to walk in a day. Use the “buddy sys-
tem”. Always ride with a friend or member of your snowmobile club.
Even then, tell someone where you are going and the approximate
time you plan to return.
RRiiddiinngg iinn aa GGrroouupp
Before starting out, designate a “trail boss” to lead the party and an-
other person to follow-up at the end of the party. Ensure that all mem-
bers of the party are aware of the proposed route and destination.
When riding with others, limit your abilities to the experience of others.
Never overtake the trail boss or, for that matter, any other snowmobile.
Use down-the-line hand signals to indicate hazards or intent of direc-
tion change. It’s important to keep a safe distance between each
snowmobile but each one behind the leader should know the position
of the machine ahead.
RIDE SAFELY
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