Polaris 550 IQ Shift 2012 Owner's Manual For Maintenance And Safety page 15

SAFETY
Operator Safety
Rider Capacity
Driving 1-Up - Some POLARIS snowmobiles are designed for a single
rider only. A decal on the console of these models indicates single rider
operation. Never carry a passenger on a single-rider snowmobile.
Driving 2-Up - Some POLARIS snowmobiles are designed for up to
two riders. A decal on the console of these models indicates that the
vehicle is designed for one operator and one passenger only.
WARNING! Control becomes more difficult with two people on board. More
space is required to make turns, and longer distances are needed for stopping.
Make sure the passenger remains seated behind the driver, facing forward, with
both feet placed firmly on the running boards. Slow down and avoid "jumping"
your snowmobile.
Snowmobiles designed for two riders should never be operated with
more than two people on board. When traveling with a passenger, it's
the driver's responsibility to operate the snowmobile safely.
Slow down! Control becomes more difficult with two people on board.
More space is required to make turns, and longer distances are necessary
for stopping.
Excessive Speed
WARNING! High speed driving, especially at night, could result in serious injury
or death. Always reduce speed when driving at night or in inclement weather.
Always observe all laws governing snowmobile operation and speed
limits. Always be alert and pay attention to the trail ahead. Multiplying
speed (MPH) by 1.5 will equal the approximate number of feet per sec-
ond your machine travels. If your speed is 40 MPH, your machine is
traveling about 60 feet per second. If you look back for only two sec-
onds, your machine will travel about 120 feet. If your speed is 60 MPH,
your machine will travel about 180 feet in two seconds.
Traveling at night requires extra caution. Check headlight and taillight
to ensure proper operation, and don't over-drive your headlight beam.
Always be able to bring your machine to a stop in the distance illumi-
nated by the headlight.
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