2004 Polaris Sportsman 400 Owners Manual - Page 17

SAFETY Operator Safety S Always have the ATV inspected by an authorized Polaris dealer if it's been involved in an accident. S Never operate on hills too steep for the ATV or for your abilities. Practice on smaller hills before attempting larger hills. S Always follow proper procedures for climbing hills. Check the terrain carefully before ascending a hill. Never climb hills with excessively slippery or loose surfaces. Shift your weight forward. Never open the throttle suddenly or make sudden gear changes. Never go over the top of a hill at high speed. S Always follow proper procedures for going downhill and for braking on hills. Check the terrain carefully before you start down a hill. Shift your weight backward. Never go down a hill at high speed. Avoid going down a hill at an angle, which would cause the vehicle to lean sharply to one side. Travel straight down the hill when possible. S Always follow proper procedures for crossing the side of a hill. Avoid hills with excessively slippery or loose surfaces. Shift your weight to the uphill side of the ATV. Never attempt to turn the ATV around on any hill until you've mastered (on level ground) the turning technique outlined in this manual. Avoid crossing the side of a steep hill when possible. S Always use proper procedures if you stall or roll backwards while climbing a hill. To avoid stalling, maintain a steady speed when climbing a hill. If you stall or roll backwards, follow the special procedure for braking described in this manual. Always dismount on the uphill side, or to either side if the ATV is pointed straight uphill. Turn the ATV around and remount following the procedure described in this manual. S Always check for obstacles before operating in a new area. Never attempt to operate over large obstacles, such as rocks or fallen trees. Always follow proper procedures when operating over obstacles as described in this manual. S Always be careful of skidding or sliding. On slippery surfaces like ice, travel slowly and use extra caution to reduce the chance of skidding or sliding out of control. S Avoid operating the ATV through deep or fast-flowing water. If it's unavoidable, travel slowly, balance your weight carefully, avoid sudden movements, and maintain a slow and steady forward motion. Do not make sudden turns or stops, and do not make sudden throttle changes. 14