Slush
Slush should be avoided at all times.
Always check for slush before start-
ing across any lake or river. If da rk
spots appear in your tracks, get off the
ice immediately. Ice and water can be
thrown rearward into the path of a fol-
lowing snowmobile. Getting a ve hic le
out of a slush area is strenuous and in
some cas es , impossible.
Fog or Whiteouts
On land or water, fog o r visibility-lim-
iting snow can form. If you have to
procee d into the fog or heavy snow,
do so slowly with your lights on and
watch intently for hazards. If you are
not sure of your way, do not proceed.
Keep a safe distance behind othe r
snowm o bile rs to improve v isib ility
and reaction time .
Unfamiliar Territory
Whenever you enter an area that is
new to you, drive with extreme cau-
tion. Go slow enough to recognize
potential hazards such as fences or
fence posts, brooks crossing your
path, rocks, sudden dips, guy wires
and c ou ntless other obstacles which
could result in a termination of your
snowmobile ride. Even when fol-
lowing existing tracks, be cautious.
Travel at a speed so you c an see what
is around the next bend or over the
top of the h ill.
Bright Sunshine
Bright sunny days can considerably re-
duce your vision. The glare from sun
andsnowmayblindyoutotheex-
tent that you c annot easily distinguis h
ravines, ditches or other obstacles.
Goggles with colored lenses should
always be worn under these condi-
tions.
Unseen Obstruction
There may be obstructions hidden
beneath the snow. Driving off estab-
lished trails and in the w oods requires
reducedspeedandincreasedvigi-
lance. Driving too fa st in an area can
make even m inor obstacles very haz-
ardous. Even hitting a small rock or
stump could throw your snowmo-
bile out of control and cause injury to
its riders. Stay on established trails
to reduce your exposure to hazards.
Be safe, slow down a nd enjoy the
scenery.
Hidden Wires
Always be on the lookout for hidden
wires, especially in area s that m ay
have been farmed at one time or any
other. Too many accidents have been
caused by running into wires in the
fields, guy wires next to poles and
roads, and into chains and wires used
as road closures. Slow speeds are a
must.
Obstacles and Jumping
Unplanned jumps of snowdrifts,
snowplow ridges, culverts or indistin-
guishable objects can be dangerous.
You can avoid them by wearing the
proper color lenses or face shields and
by operating at a lower speed.
Jumpin g a snowm obile is an unsafe
and dangerous practice. However, if
the trail does suddenly drop away from
you, crouch (stand) towards the rear
ofthevehicleandkeeptheskisup
and straigh t ahe ad. Apply partial throt-
tle and brace yourself for the im pact.
Knees must be flexed to act as shock
absorbers.
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