Passengers
Wheneveryouhaveapassengerridinginthevehicle
makesureheorsheiswearingtheseatbeltandholding
onsecurely.Driveslowerandturnlesssharplybecause
yourpassengerdoesnotknowwhatyouaregoingto
donextandmaynotbepreparedforturning,stopping,
accelerating,andbumps.
Youandyourpassengershouldremainseatedatall
times,keepingarmsandlegsinsidethevehicle.The
operatorshouldkeepbothhandsonsteeringwheel,
wheneverpossibleandpassengershouldusehand
holdsprovided(Figure31&Figure32).
Figure31
1.Passengerhandhold
Figure32
1.Handhold&hiprestraint
Thereshouldneverbepassengersinthedumpboxor
onanyattachments.Thevehicleismeanttohaveone
driverandonlyonepassenger–nomore.
Speed
Speedisoneofthemostimportantvariablesleadingto
accidents.Drivingtoofastfortheconditionscancause
youtolosecontrolandhaveanaccident.Speedcan
alsomakeaminoraccidentworse.Drivinghead–on
intoatreeatslowspeedcancauseinjuryanddamage,
but,drivingintoatreeathighspeedcandestroythe
vehicleandkillyouandyourpassenger.
Neverdrivetoofastfortheconditions.Ifthereisany
doubtabouthowfasttodrive,slowdown.
Whenusingheavyattachments(morethan1000
pounds),suchassprayers,topdressers,orspreaders,
etc.,operatingspeedsshouldberestrictedbymoving
3rdhighlockoutswitchtoslowposition.
Turning
Turningisanotherimportantvariableleadingto
accidents.Turningtoosharplyfortheconditionscan
causethevehicletolosetractionandskid,oreventip
over.
Wet,sandyandslipperysurfacesmaketurningmore
difcultandrisky.Thefasteryouaregoing,theworse
thissituationbecomesso,slowdownbeforeturning.
Duringasharpturnathigherspeeds,theinsiderear
wheelmayliftoffoftheground.Thisisnotaawin
thedesign,ithappenswithmostfourwheelvehicles
includingpassengercars.Ifthishappens,youare
turningtoosharplyforthespeedatwhichyouare
traveling.Slowdown!
Braking
Itisgoodpracticetoslowdownbeforeyougetnear
anobstacle.Thisgivesyouextratimetostoporturn
away.Hittinganobstaclecandamagethevehicleand
itscontents.Moreimportant,itcaninjureyouandyour
passenger.Grossvehicleweighthasamajorimpact
onyourabilitytostopand/orturn.Heavierloadsand
heavierattachmentsmakeavehiclehardertostopor
turn.Theheaviertheload,thelongerittakestostop
Thebrakingcharacteristicsalsochangewithnobedor
attachmentonthevehicle.Faststopsmaycausethe
rearwheelstolockupbeforethefrontwheelslock
up,whichmayaffectthecontrolofthevehicle.Itis
agoodideatodecreasevehiclespeedwithnobedor
attachment.
Turfandpavementaremuchslipperierwhentheyare
wet.Itcantake2to4timesaslongtostoponwet
surfacesasondrysurfaces.
Ifyoudrivethroughstandingwaterdeepenoughtoget
thebrakeswet,theywillnotworkwelluntiltheyare
dry.Afterdrivingthroughwater,youshouldtestthe
brakestomakesuretheyworkproperly.Iftheydonot,
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