The vehicle has special tires, low gear ratios, a locking
differential, and other features that give it extra traction.
These features add to the versatility of the vehicle but,
they can also get you into dangerous situations. You
must keep in mind that the vehicle is not a recreation
vehicle. It is not an all terrain vehicle. And, it is definitely
not meant for stunt driving" or horsing around". It is a
work vehicle, not a play vehicle. Children should not be
allowed to operate the vehicle. Anyone who operates
the vehicle should have a motor vehicle license.
If you are not experienced at driving the vehicle,
practice driving it in a safe area away from other
people. Be sure you are familiar with all the vehicle's
controls, particularly those used for braking, steering
and transmission shifting. Learn how your vehicle
handles on different surfaces. Your operating skills will
improve with experience, but as in operating any
vehicle, take it easy as you begin. Be sure you know
how to stop quickly in an emergency. If you need help,
ask your supervisor for assistance.
Many factors contribute to accidents. You have control
over several of the most important. Your actions, such
as driving too fast for conditions, braking too fast,
turning too sharp, and combinations of these, are
frequent cause of accidents.
One of the major causes of accidents is fatigue. Be
sure to take occasional breaks. It is very important that
you stay alert at all times.
Never operate the vehicle, or any equipment, if you are
under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Even
prescription drugs and cold medicines can cause
drowsiness. Read the label on the medicine or check
with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about
a certain medication.
One of the most important rules to follow is to go slower
in unfamiliar areas. It is surprising how much damage
and injury common things can cause. Tree branches,
fences, wires, other vehicles, tree stumps, ditches,
streams, and other things found in most parks can be
hazardous to the operator and passenger.
Avoid driving when it is dark, especially in unfamiliar
areas. If you must drive when it is dark, be sure to drive
cautiously and even consider adding additional lights,
if needed.
Whenever you have a passenger riding in the vehicle
make sure he or she is holding on securely. Drive
slower and turn less sharply because your passenger
does not know what you are going to do next and may
not be prepared for turning, stopping, accelerating,
and bumps.
You and your passenger should remain seated at all
times, keeping arms and legs inside the vehicle. The
operator should keep both hands on steering wheel,
whenever possible and passenger should use hand
holds provided.
There should never be passengers in the dump box or
on any attachments. The vehicle is meant to have one
driver and only one passenger-no more.
Speed is one of the most important variables leading to
accidents. Driving too fast for the conditions can cause
you to lose control and have an accident. Speed can
also make a minor accident worse. Driving head-on
into a tree at slow speed can cause injury and damage,
but, driving into a tree at high speed can destroy the
vehicle and kill you and your passenger.
Never drive too fast for the conditions. If there is any
doubt about how fast to drive, slow down.
Turning is another important variable leading to
accidents. Turning too sharply for the conditions can
cause the vehicle to lose traction and skid, or even tip
over.
Wet, sandy and slippery surfaces make turning more
difficult and risky. The faster you are going, the worse
this situation becomes so, slow down before turning.
During a sharp turn at higher speeds, the inside rear
wheel may lift off of the ground. This is not a flaw in the
design, it happens with most four wheel vehicles
including passenger cars. If this happens, you are
turning too sharply for the speed at which you are
traveling. Slow down!
It is good practice to slow down before you get near an
obstacle. This gives you extra time to stop or turn
away. Hitting an obstacle can damage the vehicle and
its contents. More important, it can injure you and your
passenger.
Gross vehicle weight has a major impact on your ability
to stop and/or turn. Heavier loads and heavier
attachments make a vehicle harder to stop or turn. The
heavier the load, the longer it takes to stop.
The braking characteristics also change with no bed or
attachment on the vehicle. Fast stops may cause the
rear wheels to lock up before the front wheels lock up,
which may affect the control of the vehicle. It is a good
idea to decrease vehicle speed with no bed or
attachment.
Turf and pavement are much slipperier when they are
wet. It can take 2 to 4 times as long to stop on wet
surfaces as on dry surfaces.
If you drive through standing water deep enough to get
the brakes wet, they will not work well until they are dry.
After driving through water, you should test the brakes
to make sure they work properly. If they do not, drive
slowly in first gear while putting light pressure on the
brake pedal. This will dry the brakes out.
