Knowing how to properly drive your UTV is important for both your safety and the safety of those around you on the trails or road. Make sure you know how to handle a rollover safely before you find yourself in a rollover situation with these four steps.
#1. Wear Your Seatbelt
One of the best things you can do to prepare for and handle a rollover safely is to wear your seatbelt. Sometimes accidents happen, and situations can change in an instant when you’re driving your UTV. One of the best things you can do to stay safe is to wear your seatbelt.
#2. Plan Ahead
While you don’t want to constantly focus on the worst possible scenario, it does help to prepare a little bit for it, and then move forward optimistically.
One way you can plan ahead is by making sure your UTV is equipped with a quality roll bar or full cage. If you just have a roll bar, it’s worth investing in a UTV upgrade to the full cage if you know you’re going to be doing a lot of rock-riding where rollovers are much more likely to happen.
As mentioned, put on your seatbelt every time you get in your UTV and do a quick inspection to make sure all restraints are in proper working order. Another way to plan ahead is to make sure everything in your UTV is strapped down. If it’s not, you’ll lose it in a rollover or worse, it could become a projectile and hit you or others.
#3. Stay Calm
This will be difficult to do as you begin to realize that your UTV is going to roll, but it is important to stay calm to ensure rollover safety. Keep your eyes and mouth closed during the event to keep any debris like dirt, sand, rock, metal, or broken glass from causing injury. If you are driving, keep your hands on the steering wheel with your thumbs to the outside. Have passengers hold onto their seatbelts or grips. To avoid as much injury as possible, all occupants should try to make their body as small as possible. This will help you avoid hitting your head or extremities on the inside of the UTV.
#4. Recovery
When your UTV has come to a stop, turn off the engine so it doesn't’ try to run without oil and to avoid electrical shorts. Put it in park, and check to make sure everyone is OK. If they are, assess the damage to your UTV by inspecting it thoroughly. Don’t rush getting your UTV and occupants back on track.
A UTV windshield and other accessories can help keep you safe during a rollover. Whether you have the Polaris Ranger Tip-Out windshield, a Classic Accessories UTV windshield, or make your own windshield for your Polaris Ranger, you want the best UTV windshield material available.
For the best of the best, look no further than the windshields from UTV Windshields & Accessories. They can get you a custom-fit windshield for your Kawasaki Mule Pro FXT so you’ll feel safe and confident no matter what happens during your ride.
