Operator's Manual

Neveroperatethevehicle,oranyequipment,ifyou
areundertheinuenceofalcoholorotherdrugs.
Evenprescriptiondrugsandcoldmedicinescancause
drowsiness.Readthelabelonthemedicineorcheck
withyourdoctororpharmacistifyouareunsureabout
acertainmedication.
Oneofthemostimportantrulestofollowistogo
slowerinunfamiliarareas.Itissurprisinghowmuch
damageandinjurycommonthingscancause.Tree
branches,fences,wires,othervehicles,treestumps,
ditches,sandtraps,streams,andotherthingsfoundin
mostparksandgolfcoursescanbehazardoustothe
operatorandpassenger.
Avoiddrivingwhenitisdark,especiallyinunfamiliar
areas.Ifyoumustdrivewhenitisdark,besuretodrive
cautiously,usetheheadlights,andevenconsideradding
additionallights.
Passengers
Wheneveryouhaveapassengerridinginthevehicle
makesureheorsheiswearingtheseatbeltandholding
onsecurely.Driveslowerandturnlesssharplybecause
yourpassengerdoesnotknowwhatyouaregoingto
donextandmaynotbepreparedforturning,stopping,
accelerating,andbumps.
Youandyourpassengershouldremainseatedatall
times,keepingarmsandlegsinsidethevehicle.The
operatorshouldkeepbothhandsonsteeringwheel,
wheneverpossibleandpassengershouldusehand
holdsprovided(Figure20&Figure21).
Figure20
1.Passengerhandhold
2.Storagecompartment
Figure21
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
difcultandrisky.Thefasteryouaregoing,theworse
thissituationbecomesso,slowdownbeforeturning.
Duringasharpturnathigherspeeds,theinsiderear
wheelmayliftoffoftheground.Thisisnotaawin
thedesign,ithappenswithmostfourwheelvehicles
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